Ron Jenkins/Fort Worth Star Telegram via AP

New Mexico's Dairese Gary (left) battles TCU's Mike Scott for possession. The Lobos controlled most of the game Tuesday night in Fort Worth, until an old acquaintance buried an improbable 3-point game-winner for the Horned Frogs.

More LoboZone

• Richard Stevens: Faces I'll remember are the smallest ones
• Michael Garcia: Here's to you, athletes, coaches and friends. These memories - and lessons - will last forever.
• Tribune sports: Five faves

MOST RECENT TRIB STORIES

• ABQTrib.com to remain available
  08:48 a.m., February 25, 2008
• Congressman is indicted
  08:37 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Series of attacks target Green Zone
  08:36 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Iran is defying U.N., agency says
  08:35 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Waterboarding approval probed
  08:34 a.m., February 23, 2008

TRIB IN THE BLOGOSPHERE*

• Ty Murray Invitational thrills fans in Albuquerque
• Is Rome Burning?
• Ominous Skies
• The Road to Invalidation
• Albuquerque company participates in “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”

*Note: The Tribune does not create and is not responsible for the blogosphere's headlines and stories. These links to blogs talking about ABQTrib.com are automatically generated. Use them at your own risk.

STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• Comments
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

SHARE THIS STORY [?]

FORT WORTH, Texas — It might have been fitting if, on his way past ex-Lobo Ryan Wall's shot, New Mexico's Chad Toppert had planted a quick kiss on Wall's mug.

And turned the Frog into a prince.

Because Wall was TCU royalty Tuesday night as the Lobo-turned-Horned Frog banged in a 3-pointer from the left corner of the baseline to break the hearts of his old Lobos pals.

"It's always a little sweeter to beat your friends," Wall said of his game-winner with 1.6 seconds to play that handed TCU a dramatic 74-72 come-from-behind win. "I still see some of these guys. Still talk to them.

"Everybody thinks about a shot like that. This is the kind of shot you dream about."

The shot was a nightmare for the Lobos as it gave TCU an improbable Mountain West Conference win after trailing UNM by 13 points at the half and by 18 with 17:14 to play.

It was also an unlikely ending because when UNM was bringing the ball in with 17 seconds to play, the Lobos were up 72-71 and Wall was sitting on the TCU bench.

But when the Frogs' Jason Ebie stole the ball from the Lobos' Darren Prentice, there was a mad scramble and TCU's Brent Hacket was removed from the game with a minor leg injury.

Enter Wall, who left UNM after two seasons and redshirted the 2005-06 season at TCU.

TCU coach Neil Dougherty said he pulled Wall off the bench because he didn't think his Frogs would be able to get a penetration basket.

"I'm glad Ryan was there," Dougherty said. "I'm just glad somebody made a shot."

Wall accepted the inbounds pass with 13.6 seconds to go, flipped the ball to Ebie out front and Ebie drove the middle before kicking the ball back to Wall in the corner.

"I felt I had it, but you never know for sure until it goes in," said Wall, who held the classic gooseneck finish for several long seconds after his jumper went "swish."

It was Wall's second shot and his first basket in seven minutes of playing time.

It was a tough blow for the Lobos, who outrebounded TCU by 11 and seemed to have made enough plays down the stretch to win.

"It's a lack of concentration, mental breakdowns, defensive breakdowns," senior J.R. Giddens said after the loss.

The Lobos held a 71-66 lead with 1:24 to play after Lobos junior Daniel Faris blocked a TCU shot and then scored on a put back at the other end of the court.

But UNM had two turnovers in the final minute to give TCU and Wall their shot.

"It was really a hard loss," Faris said. "We had it and let them back in it. We've been shooting ourselves in the foot. We gave them too many chances. It's on us."

The Lobos held TCU to nine second-half rebounds but the Frogs didn't really need too many second chances in the half.

TCU shot 76 percent from the floor, missing only six shots (19-of-25), after hitting 34.8 percent in the first half.

"You just can't play defense for 20 minutes," Lobos coach Steve Alford said. "That's what we did. We guarded for 20, and we got lit up for 20. It's really kind of been a common theme.

"We're just having a hard time finding out what combination of guys are going to be able to guard for 40 minutes. We can't find enough guys on our team who understand guarding somebody."

The Lobos were led by Prentice, who scored 15 first-half points and finished with 19. Giddens scored 12, Faris 11, and Roman Martinez had 10 points.

The Lobos, who had averaged 13.9 turnovers coming into Fort Worth, had 20 turnovers.

"We got seniors who throw the ball backwards against the press," Alford said. "I've never seen that before."

The loss dropped UNM to 14-4 overall and 1-2 in the MWC.