TCU
8-0
Arkansas State
7-2
TCU Upends Arkansas State Saturday, 77-54
12/3/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 03, 2016
Box Score | Photo Gallery 
FORT WORTH, Texas - A strong second half propelled TCU to a 77-54 victory over Arkansas State Saturday night inside Schollmaier Arena.
The Rundown
The Horned Frogs, who improved to 8-0 on the season, shot 51.6 percent in the second stanza of action, while holding the Red Wolves, who are receiving votes in this week's AP poll and earlier this year defeated Georgetown, to a dismal 30 percent from the field during the period.
TCU, who led by one at halftime, outscored Arkansas State in the second half, 47-25. Junior Vladimir Brodziansky did most of the damage, scoring 13 of his team-high 18 points following intermission.
During one stretch midway through and the game still in doubt, the Slovakian, who finished the night 7-of-7 from the field and with a career-high five blocks, scored seven-straight to ignite the Frogs. He has now scored on nine-straight shots following his perfect night from the floor.
Other notables included junior Kenrich Williams who posted his second-straight double-double with a season-high 15 points and 13 rebounds. Williams recorded six offensive boards in leading TCU to a 38-34 advantage for the game. Freshman Jaylen Fisher was also in double-figures with 13 points on 4-of-7 from the floor. He also dished out four assists.
Not to be outdone, the Frogs got solid contributions from senior's Michael Williams, Chris Washburn and sophomore JD Miller. Williams, who knocked down two big three-pointers in the second half, finished with a season-high eight points.
For the game, the Frogs did most of their damage off the bench, outscoring ASU, 35-15. TCU also held a 16-0 advantage in fast break buckets, while controlling the paint to the tune of 32-18.
Arkansas State (7-2) was led by Devin Carter's 22-point outing. Only one other Red Wolf scored in double-figures as C.J. Foster added 13 on 4-of-7 from the field.
The Red Wolves would take a 31-30 lead early in the second half, but Alex Robinson would steal the rock 2 minutes into the period and score to regain the TCU lead at 32-31. Miller then got into the act, soaring to the hole for a layup at the 16:57 mark to increase the TCU advantage to four at 35-31.
The two teams would go back and forth the next couple of trips until Brodziansky scored seven-straight, including a three-point play with 13:01 showing in the half, to give the Frogs a 44-37 midway through the period.
ASU would battle back to cut it to 47-42 moments later, but Fisher would connect on a fancy reverse layup with 9:38 on the clock to stall the Red Wolves attack. Mike Williams would continue the Frogs strong play on the offensive end a couple of trips later, connecting on a triple, but ASU answered with one of its own to make it 54-49 in favor of TCU with 8:03 left in the contest.
The senior would push the Frog advantage to 59-51 with 5:36 on the clock, tickling the twine from deep yet again and then watch as TCU increased its lead even more when Kenrich Williams dialed one up from deep down the stretch. The Frogs would go on to score the final 16 points of the game to move to 8-0 on the season.
TCU would jump out to an early 7-3 lead when Fisher found Williams underneath for a layup. A few plays later, Miller soared to the hole for an acrobatic reverse layup to increase the Purple and White advantage to 9-5 with 16:29 showing on the clock.
By the time Brandon Parrish and Williams connected on back-to-back three's at about the 13-minute mark, TCU had built a 17-7 lead. Arkansas State would battle back on a mini-run, but Brodziansky would have nothing of it midway through, scoring a turnaround jumper to increase the Purple and White lead to 20-12.
ASU would tie the game at 23-23 in the last 2 minutes of the half off a three ball, but Williams would block a would-be shot on one end and then connect on a runner to regain the TCU lead ever so slightly at 29-26 with 1:34 left in the period. The Frogs would take a 30-29 lead into intermission.
Quote of the Game
Jamie Dixon, TCU Head Coach
"First off, I would like to congratulate the seniors. I call those guys the four believers. They are the seniors who stuck it out, who believed in the transition and battled through facilities. They bring a lot to the table. Whether it be scoring points or just off the court stuff, these four seniors have been giving us great leadership and we are lucky we have those guys. I'm really excited for our guys in beating a very good team and sticking with it."
Game Notes
• TCU improved to 8-0 on the season with the win Saturday.
• TCU now leads the all-time series at 3-2 following the win.
• TCU head coach Jamie Dixon improved to 81-11 during the month of December.
• Dixon is the first first-year head coach all-time to open their debut campaign at 8-0.
• Vladimir Brodziansky posted a career-high five blocks on the night.
• Brodziansky has now connected on nine-straight buckets after tonight.
• Brodziansky posted his fourth double-digit point outing of the season Saturday.
• Kenrich Williams posted second-straight double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds.
• Williams' 15 points were a season-high and the third-straight game in which he has scored in double-figures.
• Jaylen Fisher tallied 10 or more points for a sixth time this season.
• Senior Michael Williams scored a season-high eight points in the win.
• Alex Robinson led TCU in assists for a sixth time this season with five.
• Robinson tallied five or more assists for a fifth time this year.
• Robinson totaled a career-high four steals in the victory.
Up Next
TCU will next be in action at SMU on Wednesday, Dec. 7. Start time is set for 7:00 p.m. in Dallas.
