TCU forward Chuck O’Bannon Jr. (5) takes a shot as Utah’s Rollie Worster (25), Lazar Stefanovic (20), Branden Carlson (35) and Marco Anthony (10) defend in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Fort Worth, Texas, Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. Tony Gutierrez, AP
Jay Drew
By Jay Drew
Jay has covered sports in Utah for more than 30 years and has been writing for the Deseret News since 2019.

A cold-shooting night and the inability to keep one of the nation’s top offensive-rebounding teams doomed the Utah basketball team to a 76-62 loss to the TCU Horned Frogs on Wednesday night at the Dickies Center in Fort Worth, Texas.

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Utah center Branden Carlson (35) defends as TCU guard Mike Miles (1) goes up for a shot in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Fort Worth, Texas, Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) | Tony Gutierrez, AP
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Utah's Lazar Stefanovic (20) looks on as David Jenkins Jr. (1) fouls TCU's Francisco Farabello (3) on a drive to the basket in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Fort Worth, Texas, Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. A technical foul was issued on the play. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) | Tony Gutierrez, AP
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Utah guard David Jenkins Jr. (1) looks to pass the ball as TCU's Mike Miles, center rear, defends in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Fort Worth, Texas, Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) | Tony Gutierrez, AP
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TCU forward JaKobe Coles, left, and Utah forward Riley Battin, right, compete for control of a rebound during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Fort Worth, Texas, Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) | Tony Gutierrez, AP
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TCU center Souleymane Doumbia (25) takes a shot as Utah's Lazar Stefanovic, from left, Rollie Worster, David Jenkins Jr. (1) and Gabe Madsen (55) defend in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Fort Worth, Texas, Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) | Tony Gutierrez, AP
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TCU guard Mike Miles (1) drives to the basket as Utah's Lazar Stefanovic (20), Rollie Worster (25) and Branden Carlson, right, defend in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Fort Worth, Texas, Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) | Tony Gutierrez, AP
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TCU guard Micah Peavy (0) takes as shot as Utah guard Both Gach (2) defends in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Fort Worth, Texas, Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) | Tony Gutierrez, AP
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TCU center Souleymane Doumbia (25) competes for an offensive rebound against Utah's David Jenkins Jr., center left, Branden Carlson (35) and Gabe Madsen (55) as Lazar Stefanovic, left, and Rollie Worster (25) and Emanuel Miller (2) look on in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Fort Worth, Texas, Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) | Tony Gutierrez, AP
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Utah center Lahat Thioune (0) looks on as Marco Anthony (10) takes a charge from TCU's Xavier Cork (12) on a shot attempt in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Fort Worth, Texas, Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) | Tony Gutierrez, AP

Here are three keys to the Horned Frogs’ non-conference win over the Runnin’ Utes:

• The Utes got off to a nice start and led by six points early, but a flagrant 1 foul called on David Jenkins Jr. spurred the Frogs, and they finished the first half on a 14-5 run to take control of the game. The Utes went 0 for 8 from 3-point range in the first half.

• Utah’s poor shooting night continued into the second half, and TCU maintained a six- to 14-point lead most of the second 20 minutes. The Utes finished shooting 34% from the field and were a frosty 3 of 20 from 3-point range.

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• Both Gach reached double figures in scoring for the third-straight game, finishing with 16 points on 5 of 13 shooting, while Branden Carlson chipped in 16 as well. Utah gave up 11 offensive rebounds to the Frogs, who turned the advantage into 10 second-chance points.

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