BOX SCORE
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Despite a career-high 13 points from junior center Donald Lawson in his first start and a career-high 11 rebounds from senior forward Derek Drews, Western Michigan let a nearly game-long lead slip away in a 67-63 loss to TCU in the opening game of the Charleston Classic in the brand new Carolina First Center.
The Broncos (0-1) took a 54-50 lead on a layup by Lawson from junior guard David Kool with 4:30 remaining, but the Hornded Frogs (1-0) responded with a short flip in by Edvinas Ruzgas and a layup from Jason Ebie to knot the score with 3:05 remaining.
WMU appeared to retake the lead after a timeout when Michael Redell found a wide-open Lawson underneath, but he missed the dunk. TCU responded with a three-pointer from Kevin Langford and a fast break layup off a missed shot by Zvonko Buljan to take its largest lead of the game, 59-54, with 1:42 remaining.
The Broncos cut it to four, 59-55, after a free throw on the next possession, but Ronnie Moss hit a three-pointer with the shot clock running down to put the game out of reach, 62-55, with 54 seconds to go.
Kool led all scorers with 22 points and a game-high five assists, three rebounds and two steals, while senior Shawntes Gary chipped in 15 points, eight rebounds, two assists and one steal.
The Broncos shot 43.6% from the floor (24-55), but hit only 2-18 three-pointers and 13-21 free throws, while TCU converted on 49.0% (25-51), including 7-17 three-pointers.
WMU won the rebounding battle, 41-30, including 14 offensive rebounds, but TCU eked out a 6-5 edge in second-chance points. They also won in points off turnovers, 14-13, and total turnovers, 14-8.
The Brown & Gold started out fast by taking an 8-5 lead behind four points from Gary, but then the Broncos went silent. WMU didn't score for the next 8:33, but TCU was only able to secure a 10-8 lead. A jumper by Gary started an 8-0 run that put WMU up six, 16-10, after a Kool jumper with 6:51 to go in the half. WMU added to its lead and built an eight-point advantage, 22-14, with only 3:14 left on the clock.
TCU would be the strong closer as they hit a trio of triples during a 13-8 run to close the half down by only three, 30-27. The Horned Frogs followed with the first two points of the second half, but a triple by Kool propelled the lead back to six, 37-31, with 17:08 remaining.
Freshman LaMarcus Lowe scored the first two points of his career with 14:31 on the clock to help WMU regain its six-point advantage, 39-33, but TCU countered with an old-fashioned three-point play.
It still appeared WMU was in control when freshman Flenard Whitfield converted the first basket of his career and was fouled. He converted the free throw and it was a six-point cushion again, 42-36, with 12:56 on the clock. TCU scored seven-straight after that to take its first lead since 10-8, 43-42, and the game remained close till the end.
Ruzgas led four double-figure scorers for TCU with 16 points.
The Broncos will play at 5:30 p.m. Saturday against Hofstra (0-1). The game will be available on the Bronco Radio Network and joined in progress following the Toledo-Western Michigan football game.
