November 25th, 2009
Bobcats fall to TCU in triple-overtime

STAFF REPORT

After 54 minutes of basketball, Texas Christian finally pulled away from Texas State in the 55th minute Tuesday night, escaping with a 108-99 victory in triple overtime in Fort Worth.

John Rybak scored a career high 30 points for Texas State, making eight of 18 three-point shots. John Bowman and Cameron Johnson each added 17 for the Bobcats, while J.B. Conley scored 13 points with 10 rebounds.

Evdinas Ruzgas led TCU with 20 points, while three teammates kicked in 17 or more. Ronnie Moss and Garland Green each scored 18, while Zvonko Buljan scored 17. Kevin Butler (13 points and 11 rebounds) and Greg Hill (11 points) also reached double figures for TCU.

The Bobcats fell to 1-5, losing all five games in their road swing. They will return home to play Texas A&M-International on Dec. 1 (7 p.m.) and Texas-Pan American on Dec. 5 (TBA). Texas Christian is 4-2.

After TCU took a 13-2 lead five minutes into the game, the Bobcats rallied with 12 straight points and took a 14-13 lead. From there, the game went back and forth, with seven lead changes in the first half, 15 in the second and five in the three overtimes.

The final seconds of regulation time and the first two overtimes turned on clutch three-point shooting.

The Bobcats held a 74-72 lead with 28 seconds left in regulation time when Moss sent Bowman to the line with a foul. Bowman made the first free throw, but missed the second, and Hill responded with a three-pointer for TCU as 21 seconds remained, tying the game at 75-75.

TCU took an 85-82 lead on two free throws by Green with 20 seconds left in the first overtime, but Rybak tied the game for Texas State with a three-pointer at the buzzer, making the score 85-85 and forcing a second overtime.

Rybak made a three-pointer with 40 seconds left in the second overtime, giving the Bobcats a 96-93 lead. However, Moss buried a three pointer with five seconds left in the overtime, tying the game at 96-96 and forcing a third overtime.

Rybak’s lay-up brought Texas State to within 101-99 with 1:44 left in the third overtime. But TCU scored the final seven points of the game as the Bobcats missed three shots and made a turnover in the last 1:44. Butler’s lay-up put the Horned Frogs ahead, 103-99, with 1:22 left, then Green dunked on the Bobcats with 35 seconds left to make it 105-99. TCU scored the rest of its points from the line.

Rybak made a three-pointer with 40 seconds left in the second overtime, giving the Bobcats a 96-93 lead. However, Moss buried a three pointer with five seconds left in the overtime, tying the game at 96-96 and forcing a third overtime.

Rybak’s lay-up brought Texas State to within 101-99 with 1:44 left in the third overtime. But TCU scored the final seven points of the game as the Bobcats missed three shots and made a turnover in the last 1:44. Butler’s lay-up put the Horned Frogs ahead, 103-99, with 1:22 left, then Green dunked on the Bobcats with 35 seconds left to make it 105-99. TCU scored the rest of its points from the line.