Air Force Academy
TCU
Falcons Fall to TCU, 59-50, in MWC Opener
1/6/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 6, 2010
Zvonko Buljan led four players in double figures with 14 points and TCU used a late 13-0 run Wednesday to defeat Air Force, 59-50, in the Mountain West Conference season-opener at Fort Worth, Texas.
Buljan added 11 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season. Kevin Butler and Greg Hill each added 12 points and Ronnie Moss had 10 points and six assists as the Horned Frogs improved to 8-7 overall and 1-0 in the MWC.
Freshmen Mike Fitzgerald and Taylor Broekhuis each had 11 points for Air Force (8-6, 0-1), which lost its 17th consecutive regular-season league game. Broekhuis tied his career-high with five rebounds while Fitzgerald collected a career-best three boards.
Fitzgerald hit two free throws with 5:54 remaining in the game to give the Falcons their first lead at 42-40. Moss hit a jumper to tie the score, then a hook shot by Broekhuis put Air Force up 44-42 at the 4:45 mark. TCU responded with 13 consecutive points over the next 3:50, including four each from Butler and Hill, to seal the victory.
Air Force, playing without four starters due to injury, erased a 31-18 halftime deficit by making five of its first six field-goal attempts in the second half, but made just six-of 23 shots the rest of the way. The Falcons shot 40.9 percent for the game and just 55.6 percent from the free-throw line. TCU shot 38 percent from the field.
The Falcons continue league play on the road on Saturday, Jan. 9 when they take on Colorado State in Fort Collins, Colo. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
