GAME NOTES: The TCU Horned Frogs will attempt to keep their undefeated start to the season alive on Tuesday night when they welcome the Furman Paladins to Daniel-Meyer Coliseum for non-conference action.

Furman opened up Southern Conference play on Saturday and came away with a 74-64 home victory over Samford. The season as a whole has not been kind to the Paladins however, as they are just 2-4 overall and have yet to win on the road.

TCU's 8-0 start, highlighted by a championship run in the Corpus Christi Coastal Classic, is starting to put the team on the national radar, as it received votes in the latest AP poll. The Horned Frogs, who begin a season- long six-game homestand on Tuesday, earned an outstanding road with their last time out by defeating Ole Miss on Dec. 4, 66-54.

In the only previous meeting between the teams, Furman claimed a 68-47 decision in 1963.

The Paladins began their league slate in style over the weekend, as they opened up a lead as large as 14 against Samford before eventually settling in on a 10-point win. Although they actually made fewer field goals (19-of-44) than their opponent (21-of-59), the difference was made at the foul line, where they outscored Samford, 29-17. Stephen Croone was the catalyst with 33 points, six rebounds and five steals. Geoff Beans poured in 21 points off the bench, Daniel Fowler tallied a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds and Kris Acox also pulled in 10 boards.

On the season, Furman has struggled to find a rhythm offensively, as it shoots less than 39 percent from the field for a mere 59.8 ppg, and its lackluster scoring defense (70.2 ppg) hasn't done it many favors either. Croone is the go-to scoring option with 17.0 ppg but he's only made 39 percent of his field goal tries. Beans (15.0 ppg) has impressed in two games since returning from suspension, while Fowler brings 8.8 ppg to the mix.

After a tightly contested first half with Ole Miss last week, the Horned Frogs pulled away in the second stanza thanks to a 13-0 run late in the frame. They shot only 40 percent from the field on the night but held Ole Miss to under 30 percent shooting, and they owned a 43-33 advantage on the boards. Pacing four teammates in double figures with 14 points was Karviar Shepherd, who added nine rebounds. Brandon Parrish and Kyan Anderson netted 11 points apiece, and Amric Fields chipped in 10 points off the bench.

TCU's success this season has come mostly due to the strength of its defense, as it gives up only 54.6 ppg while ranking eighth in the nation in field goal percentage defense (.341). Its offensive output has been strong as well with 75.2 ppg on just shy of 48 percent field goal shooting. While Anderson is the only player to average in double figures with 12.5 ppg, the team has a deep bench with seven others scoring at least 5.9 ppg. Kendrick Williams (8.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg), Chris Washburn (8.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg) and Shepherd (7.8 ppg, 7.0 rpg) have all been active on the glass.

With TCU riding high and returning home for this matchup to play a lackluster Furman squad, expect the Horned Frogs to pull away early.