TCU
5-4
Texas Tech
9-0
TCU Topped by Texas Tech, 80-70
12/8/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 8, 2009
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FORT WORTH, TEXAS (AP) - John Roberson scored eight of his 21 points in a game-turning run that finally put No. 23 Texas Tech ahead as the Red Raiders overcame an early 14-point deficit to beat TCU 80-70 Tuesday night.
The Red Raiders (9-0) played their first game as a ranked team since the end of the 2004-05 season, and first for Pat Knight since he succeeded father Bobby as coach in February 2008. They are off to their best start in seven decades - since a 12-0 start in 1929-30 and moved into the rankings Monday.
Zvonko Buljan had 24 points and 10 rebounds for TCU (5-4).
Texas Tech didn't lead until Theron Jenkins made a free throw with 16:09 left to break a 44-all tie. He was intentionally fouled at midcourt after stealing a pass and the whistle nullified his breakaway slam dunk.
The Red Raiders then maintained possession because of the intentional foul, and Roberson hit a 3-pointer. After a TCU miss, Brad Reese hit to make it 50-44, culminating the 24-3 run that wiped out their 14-point deficit.
Roberson also had a 3-pointer in the closing seconds of the first half, when Tech scored the final nine points.
Mike Singletary had 17 points and David Tairu 14 for the Red Raiders. D'wayln Roberts had nine points and 19 rebounds.
Ronnie Moss had 11 points for TCU, and Garlon Green added 10.
TCU was hosting a ranked non-conference opponent for only the second time in 48-year-old Daniel-Meyer Coliseum. The Frogs lost 85-66 to then-No. 1 Kansas six years ago.
But with the Red Raiders playing their only game in the Dallas-Fort Worth area this season, there were a lot of red-clad fans for the visitors. They finally got to do some cheering after Tech's slow start.
The Frogs led after Buljan hit a 3-pointer from the left wing on their first shot of the game, and it was 8-2 after he had a slam dunk and Edvinas Ruzgas hit a 3-pointer.
By the first media timeout 4:01 into the game, which came after Tairu traveled for Tech's fourth turnover, TCU already had a 14-4 lead. Less than two minutes after that, the Frogs stretched it to 18-5 on Kevin Butler's shot.
But the Frogs went cold after Moss stole a pass that led to a layup by Niola Cerina and made it 41-27 with 2:06 left in the first half. Roberts' two free throws 10 seconds later started the key run that extended after halftime.
TCU managed to regain the lead only once after that, on Butler's layup that made it 55-54 midway through the second half. But Tech went right back ahead - and stayed - on Robertson's reverse layup before Tairu made a spin move on the baseline for an easy jumper.
