FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) -- Four TCU players scored in double-figures to lead the Horned Frogs to a 71-54 win over Prairie View A&M in the season-opener for both teams.
TCU was playing its first game at Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center, its home for the 2014-15 season while the on-campus Daniel-Meyer Coliseum undergoes renovations.
"A win's a win," TCU coach Trent Johnson said. "We had an opportunity to play a lot of guys. Obviously when you play a team that changes defense press to press to get you out of rhythm, you have a tendency to do what I call `play ugly.'"
Trey Zeigler, who sat out last season after transferring from Pittsburgh, scored 14 points. Karviar Shepherd added 13 to go with rebounds for the Horned Frogs.
Prairie View A&M's Jacoby Green cut the deficit to 38-34 on a three-pointer with 14:49 remaining, but TCU responded with a 22-4 run. Tre Hagood ended the run with a pair of free-throws and consecutive three-pointers over a 47-second span, snapping a 9:37 field goal drought for the Panthers.
TCU was able to utilize its size throughout the game, outscoring Prairie View A&M 38-16 in the paint as well as holding a 50-25 rebounding advantage. The Horned Frogs did victimize themselves, however, with 16 turnovers.
"I thought for the most part we did a decent job on the glass and getting shots," Johnson said. "But we were horrible in terms of taking care of the ball when we had guys who had the tendency to get cute (with the ball) which was disturbing."
The Panthers were one game away from clinching the SWAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament each of the last two years. Hagood and Karim York led the squad with 13 points apiece.
TIP-INS
TCU: The Horned Frogs announced on Wednesday morning the signing of Jalon Miller. ESPN.com rates the Dallas prospect as a four-star recruit and the No. 19 small forward in the nation.
Prairie View A&M: Last season the Panthers led the SWAC in three-pointers made (6.6 per game) and finished third in three-point percentage (34 percent). They ended the game with six treys on 33 percent shooting.
