Illinois St. @ Texas Christian preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 21, 2016 ) Illinois St. 71, Texas Christian 80

After suffering its first loss of the year at the hands of Clemson in the MGM Resorts Main Event in Las Vegas last week, TCU rebounded nicely by winning the tournament’s consolation game 64-47 over Wyoming. The Horned Frogs will not play a road game again until 2020 as they begin a seven-game homestand Tuesday against Illinois State.

The Horned Frogs blew a 15-point second-half lead in what ended up being a 62-60 overtime defeat to the Tigers but had a solid bounceback effort against the Cowboys as they gave up only 14 first-half points - their fewest in almost five years. “It was a good response to a heartbreaking loss and a good sign for us going forward,” TCU coach Jamie Dixon told reporters. “We came out with good intensity, good focus. We caused turnovers, took away the 3 and rebounded at a pretty good level.” After committing a season-high 21 turnovers against Clemson, TCU totaled a season-low nine against Wyoming while the 47 points it surrendered was the second-fewest in Dixon’s four-year tenure. Illinois State snapped a three-game losing streak with a 76-57 victory over Illinois Springfield on Friday thanks to leading scorer Zach Copeland (14.9 points per game) netting a game-high 18 while securing three steals.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, FSN

ABOUT ILLINOIS STATE (3-4): Despite the Redbirds victory Friday, coach Dan Muller still lamented his team’s 15 turnovers, their 3-for-16 showing from 3-point range and their lack of a consistent effort. “We played well at times. We moved the ball at times. We guarded at times,” Muller told the media. “‘At times’ teams don’t get it done and we’re an ‘at times’ team right now.” Freshman DJ Horne scored 13 points Friday while sophomore Rey Idowu added 12 - both career highs - as the pair came off the bench to make a combined 11-of-14 shots from the floor.

ABOUT TCU (5-1): Senior Desmond Bane’s game-high 22 points and career-best 11 rebounds against Wyoming gave the guard his fourth career double-double after notching his third against Clemson two days prior with 17 and 10. Freshman PJ Fuller earned his first collegiate start against the Tigers - replacing second-leading scorer RJ Nembhard (13.4 points per game) - and filled in admirably with 11 points and two assists in 24 turnover-free minutes. Freshman guard Francisco Farabello provided a spark off the bench against the Cowboys as the Argentinian tallied three points, five boards, five assists and swiped all of his career-best four steals in the first 12 minutes of the second half.

TIP-INS

1. Bane has 1,361 career points and is three shy of passing Vladimir Brodziansky for 12th place on TCU’s all-time scoring list. Darrell Browder (1979-1983) holds the top spot with 1,886 career points.

2. Horned Frogs C Kevin Samuel is pulling down a team-best 8.5 rebounds per game and has blocked at least one shot in 26 consecutive contests dating back to last season.

3. TCU is 2-0 all-time against Illinois State and 14-10 against current members of the Missouri Valley Conference.

PREDICTION: TCU 74, Illinois State 59