TCU
4-0
Illinois State
1-2
Brodziansky Leads TCU To 80-71 Victory Monday
11/21/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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The Rundown
The Horned Frogs, who are now 4-0 on the season, turned a five-point halftime deficit into a strong second half, shooting 46.9 percent from the field in the period, including 45.5 percent from deep. The Frogs, who closed the game on a 9-0 run after the score was knotted at 71-71 with 54 seconds left, also went 14-of-15 (.933) from the charity stripe in the second half in front of a rocking 5,938 spectators.
Brodziansky led the way Monday, scoring a career-high 24 points on 7-of-8 from the field. The Slovakian cashed in on a career-high 10-of-13 from the free throw line, while also chipping in with six rebounds. Kenrich Williams, who started for the first time this season, recorded his third double-double of his career with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Jaylen Fisher and Alex Robinson were also in double-figures with 15 and 14 points, respectively.
In a game that featured seven ties and 11 lead changes, TCU did most of its damage off the bench Monday, outscoring the Redbirds, 43-19. The Horned Frogs, who dished out 20 assists, also controlled points in the paint to the tune of 34-18, while holding a 16-3 advantage in second-chance points.
Illinois State, who was picked to finish second in the Missouri Valley Conference, moved to 1-2 overall with the loss. The Redbirds were carried by a 20-point, 9-rebound night by MiKyle McIntosh.
Williams would make it a 37-34 game early on in the second stanza, nailing a three off an assist Robinson. He then scored on a jumper to make it a 40-36 game at the 17:36 mark of the half, but Illinois State would answer with a triple of its own before JD Miller exploded to the hole for the flush with 17:09 on the clock.
The two teams would go back and forth the next couple of trips, but the Redbirds would take a 51-45 lead with a little over 12 minutes remaining in the contest. Brodziansky then found senior Brandon Parrish in the corner for a triple at the 10:44 mark to pull the Frogs within one at 51-50 and ignite the crowd.
Trailing 55-52 with 9 minutes left in the game, Brodziansky would score an old fashion three-point play to tie it at 55-55 and then watch as Fisher dropped a dagger from deep to give the Frogs a 58-55 advantage on the very next possession.
ISU would battle back to take a one-point lead, but the Slovakian would have nothing of it, finding the bottom of the net once again. When it was all said and done, Brodziansky would score 11-straight over a 3-minute stretch to give TCU a 69-68 lead.
With 1:11 to play, Williams had a huge follow dunk to give the Purple and White a 71-70 advantage, but Illinois State would tie it at 71-71 before the Frogs closed the game on a 9-0 run to seal the victory.
Illinois State would take a 11-6 lead in the contest early, but Robinson would have nothing of it, driving by his defender and finishing to bring the Frogs within 11-8 at the 13:58 mark of the opening frame. A few plays later, the sophomore continued to roll, exploding to the rack to make it a 14-10 ballgame with 11:42 on the clock.
TCU would take an 18-16 lead midway through following a mini 8-2 run, but Illinois State responded with two-straight triples to stymie the Horned Frog attack at the 6:33 mark. Williams would score down low to make it a 22-20 ballgame in the opening frame with 6:10 remaining.
The Redbirds would push their lead to 26-21 at the charity stripe, but Robinson would tickle the twine from the corner to pull TCU within 26-24 with 4:24 on the clock. Brodziansky then made it a 30-27 contest about a minute later, but it was short lived as the Redbirds knocked down another triple with 1:58 on the clock to take a 33-27 lead. TCU would trail at the half, 36-31.
Quotes of the Game
Jamie Dixon, TCU Head Coach
''This was a very good win against a very good team. We're making great progress. You can feel it building. You can feel it happening. And you can see it happening.''
Vladimir Brodziansky, TCU Junior
''My teammates were finding me in the open spot, and I just had to finish it. I was just 2 feet from the basket, so I had an easy job to finish it.''
Game Notes
• TCU improved to 4-0 on the season.
• TCU leads the all-time series at 2-0.
• Jamie Dixon became the first first-year head coach in program history to open their debut campaign with a perfect 4-0 record.
• Junior Vladimir Brodziansky tallied a career-high 24 points in the win.
• Brodziansky also recorded career-highs in free throws made (10) and attempted (13).
• Kenrich Williams posted his third double-double of his career Monday.
• Williams recorded season-highs in points, rebounds, minutes and assists.
• Williams also tied a career-high with two steals on the night.
• Williams made his first start of the season Monday night.
• Jaylen Fisher had a career-high 15 points Monday.
• Fisher also posted career-highs in 3-point field goals made (3) and free throws (4) made and attempted (4).
• Fished dished out five or more assists for the third time this season.
• Alex Robinson had a season-high three made free throws Monday.
• Robinson led TCU in assists with six for a third time this season.
• Robinson has recorded eight games of five or more assists in his career.
• Robinson tied a career-high with three steals Monday night.
Up Next
TCU will take on UNLV on Friday, Nov. 25 in Las Vegas. Start time is set for 9:30 p.m. CT and will be streamed live on Campus Insiders.
