{{pageModel.leagueAbbr}} {{pageModel.subtitle}} | Las Vegas Review-Journal
National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Texas Christian 81, Illinois St. 69
When: 9:00 PM ET, Tuesday, December 3, 2019
Where: Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena, Fort Worth, Texas
Officials: # Darren George, # Antinio Petty, # Ray Natili
Attendance: 5991

Senior guard Desmond Bane had 23 points and TCU controlled the paint in an 81-69 home win over Illinois State on Tuesday night in Fort Worth, Texas.

Bane, who also had nine rebounds and five assists, was 9 of 14 from the field as the Horned Frogs (6-1) had a 42-18 edge on points in the paint.

Illinois State (3-5) hit 11 3-pointers, making six of its first seven to start the second half, but couldn't buy a basket inside the arc. The Redbirds shot 43.8 percent on two-pointers, going nearly 10 minutes in the second half without a made two.

TCU led 39-32 at halftime and upped that edge to 52-39 with 16:32 left after back-to-back 3-pointers by senior guard Jaire Grayer. The Horned Frogs made their first seven shots in the second half, a complete reversal from the first half when they stayed 0 for 7 from the field.

Grayer finished with 15 points including 4 of 6 from long distance, with the rest of TCU going 4 of 22 from outside.

The Redbirds wouldn't go away, though, thanks to red-hot perimeter shooting. Consecutive triples by freshman guard Antonio Reeves cut TCU's lead to 56-53 with 11:59 left, then a three by freshman guard D.J. Horne capped a 14-3 run to tie it at 59 with 9:17 remaining.

Grayer gave TCU the lead back with a three at the 8:45 mark, then sophomore center Kevin Samuel completed a 3-point play to make it 65-59 with 7:20 left. A steal by sophomore forward Jaedon Ledee keyed a fast break that was finished by sophomore guard R.J. Nembhard, putting the Frogs up 72-62 with 3:35 left.

Illinois State, which went more than six minutes during the second half without scoring anywhere other than the 3-point line, scored the game's first seven points only to see TCU go on a 9-0 run in a 49-second span to take the lead and hold it for good.

Senior guard Zach Copeland led the Redbirds with 19 points, making 5 of 8 3-pointers, while Reeves had 15 and Horne added 13.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Illinois St.   Texas Christian
Zach Copeland 19 Scoring Desmond Bane 23
Matt Chastain 3 Assists Desmond Bane 5
Jaycee Hillsman 7 Rebounds Desmond Bane 9
Matt Chastain 3 Free Throws Made Desmond Bane 4
Zach Copeland 2 Steals Desmond Bane 2
Abdou Ndiaye 1 Blocks Kevin Samuel 3
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Illinois St. 69 46.3 11-22 8-13 18 27 1 3 17
Texas Christian 81 46.9 8-28 13-21 19 37 4 9 12