In winning for a third consecutive game to start the season, TCU’s youthful basketball team experienced a discovery as illuminating as learning to read.
The Horned Frogs found a rhythm on offense.
No. 21 TCU put together its best offensive half of the season Thursday at Schollmaier Arena in a 77-69 victory over Fresno State, which proved to be was as troublesome as a problem with the IRS.
Those are hard to get rid of.
But 48 points in the last 20 minutes on 67 percent shooting from the field was the antidote. TCU did it the preferred way, too, with balance and depth.
Five players, led by Desmond Bane’s 23 points, including 15 in the second half, scored in double figures. Alex Robinson – 13 points and 14 assists – and Kevin Samuel – 14 points and 10 rebounds – had double-doubles.
“I wanted to make sure we kept our intensity up,” Robinson said. “That’s been a problem not keeping up the intensity the whole half. Every game we’re getting better and better. We took a step forward in this game.”
Samuel scored 12 on 6-of-6 shooting in the second half. Robinson collected 11 assists while facing off against the Frogs’ best opposition, which employed a full-court press that caused TCU problems. The Frogs turned the ball over 15 times.
But the Frogs found themselves on the offensive end with better ball movement and spacing and forced turnovers and blocked shots. The 6-foot-11 Samuel had six blocks, a career high for the redshirt freshman in a career-high 32 minutes.
After 29-point first half, TCU tried the gas, and, presto, the Frogs came out on a 13-3 run to start the second half.
“The second half we just talked about ball movement and getting more touches inside,” coach Jamie Dixon said. “Came out right away [in the second half] spraying it around. Alex’s 14 assists were a big part of that.
“The offensive execution was much better. We moved the ball better. It was sticking in our hands too much in the first half. That’s been a problem for us.”
It was all a big deal for the young Horned Frogs, who are still playing without two key pieces.
Coach Jamie Dixon believed Jaylen Fisher would see his first action of the season. Kouat Noi remained out as well. Both are coming back from knee injuries.
Fisher has been cleared to play and has been practicing. His return to game action is his call, Dixon said.
The coach indicated the delay might be related partially to a psychological matter, typical for a player who has suffered two knee injuries in two years.
“The history is what he’s fighting through,” Dixon said.
The return of the 6-2 junior guard will go a long way to curing TCU’s slow offensive start.
Fisher is the fastest Horned Frog on the dribble. He can penetrate defenses and find open guys. He can also shoot the 3-pointer.
Robinson believes the “sky is the limit” for the offense when Fisher returns.
He is a “huge piece for us.”
The return of both of those guys will help with the team’s evolving depth, an issue that arose on Thursday.
Turnovers were key Thursday. In committing 15, TCU had too many of them.
That had to do with the Bulldogs’ 94-foot approach and fatigue, Dixon believed. TCU’s five double-figure scorers all played more than 30 minutes. Bane’s ledger read a full 40.
Fresno State’s press was not a good fit for true freshman guards Kaden Archie and Kendric Davis, who played five and nine minutes. That was down from 22 and 17 in Sunday’s game with Oral Roberts.
Braxton Huggins scored a team-high 18 for Fresno State. New Williams, christened Nuwr’iyl Elijah Williams, had 17. Combined, the two went 8 for 14 from the 3-point line.
Bane, TCU’s top scorer in the 3-0 start at 19.7 points a game, turned in his best all-around game.
In addition to a season high in points on 10-of-15 shooting, he also collected seven rebounds.
“The ball was moving everywhere,” Bane said. “We just have a really unselfish team. They’ve been able to hit me in spots where I’m capable of scoring these last two games.”
Again, TCU’s defense held an opponent to under 38 percent from the field for a third consecutive game.
Long and athletic has been the prescription there.
TCU, however, looked more like the 21st best team in the country for the first time this season by putting the ball in the basket at the best rate yet.
That will continue to get better, said the coach, who said he is getting closer to better identifying where the breakdowns are.
The offense will come, he assured.
“Every game we’re getting better and better,” Robinson said. “We took a step forward in this game.”
Lipscomb is next on Tuesday at Schollmaier Arena.
