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University of Houston Athletics
University of Houston
TCU
Cougars Drop Decision To Horned Frogs, 58-51
1/19/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 19, 2005
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) - Despite heroic efforts by sophomore guard Lanny Smith and junior forwards Ramon Dyer and Rodney Hannah, the University of Houston could not overcome its cold shooting in the second half as the Cougars fell, 58-51, at TCU Wednesday night.
Houston jumped out to a 10-4 lead in the eight minutes of the first half as Smith and Dyer scored five points each.
After the Horned Frogs closed to within two, 10-8, Smith hit a pair of treys and Darrius Brannon hit a jumper from the free throw line to extend Houston's lead to 18-8. TCU tied the score at 18-18 as Marcus Shropshire hit two three-point baskets and Neiman Owens added a jumper for the Horned Frogs.
Then, Dyer scored five points on a three-point basket from the left baseline and a jumper. Smith closed out the first half with a jumper after he stole the ball from Aaron Curtis to give Houston a 25-22 lead at halftime.
In the second half, the Cougars came out out of the locker room ice cold as the Cougars scored just eight points in the first 12 minutes of the second half.
Rodney Hannah scored six of Houston eight points on a jumper from the left baseline, a dunk shot after a steal by Brian Latham, and a jump shot from the left side of the lane.
By that time, TCU had taken a 45-33 lead. Houston climbed back into the game as Lathum hit a three-pointer from the right side and Smith added a trey from the top of the key to make the score, 47-41.
But, TCU's Corey Santee, who played the game with strep throat, answered with a jumper and a free trhow to make the score 50-41 with 5:08 left to play.
Houston closed to within five, 56-51, with 1:02 left to play when Smith hit a three-pointer from the left wing. But, Santee hit a free throw and Marcus Sloan added another free throw to make the final score, 58-51.
Shropshire led TCU with 14 points, as the Horned Frogs improved to 13-5, including a 3-1 mark in Conference USA. Femi Ibikunle had his second career double-double, scoring 12 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.
Smith scored a game-high 24 points for the Cougars, who fell to 11-7 overall and 2-2 in C-USA play.
Dyer finished with 14 points and Hannah added six points and five rebounds. But, no other Cougar scored more than three points, and senior Andre Owens was held scoreless for the first time in his UH career.
