West Virginia Falls to No. 15 TCU 76-72 in Fort Worth

In the second matchup of the season, No. 15 TCU defeated West Virginia 76-72. The Mountaineers fought until the final buzzer, but the Horned Frogs closed the game with free throws.

TCU (17-5, 6-3 Big 12) attacked West Virginia (13-9, 2-7 Big 12) and their interior defense all evening. The Horned Frogs scored 48 points in the paint while also securing six offensive rebounds. TCU scored nine second-chance points as well.

WVU fifth-year senior Erik Stevenson continued his good play, recording a team-high of 17 points on 6-of-17 shooting from the field. Stevenson, who was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week on Monday, also had three rebounds and four assists.

Emmitt Matthews converted an and-one opportunity with just four minutes left in the game to cut the deficit to single digits. Matthews scored all of his 10 points in the second half.

WVU sophomore Seth Wilson hit his second three with two minutes to go in the first half to set West Virginia up with a four-point deficit at the half. Wilson finished with six points on 2-of-5 shooting from three.

West Virginia shot 84 percent from the free throw line and committed 10 turnovers, two categories the Mountaineers have struggled with this season.

TCU big man Eddie Lampkin was reportedly out for the game against WVU but was dressed during pregame. Lampkin gave it a go, coming off the bench for Jamie Dixon and played in spurts. Lampkin limped down the floor for eight minutes.

TCU leading scorer Mike Miles (knee) missed Tuesday’s game against West Virginia. Miles sustained the knee injury against Mississippi State over the weekend and had an MRI the following day. Miles isn’t out for the season but will miss some time. Miles, the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year, averages 18.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists through 18 games.

In the first matchup, WVU defeated TCU back on Jan. 18, 74-65.

West Virginia will travel back home for a couple of days off before hosting Oklahoma on Saturday at 8 p.m. The Mountaineers and Sooners will tipoff on ESPN2.