TCU
4-0
Mississippi Valley State
0-4
TCU Doubles Up Delta Devils, 106-53
11/24/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
FORT WORTH, Texas - The TCU men's basketball team moved to 4-0 on the season Monday by routing Mississippi Valley State at Wilkerson-Greines, 106-53.
On a night when all 14 players suited up scored, the Horned Frogs simply outmanned and outplayed the Delta Devils, eclipsing the 100-point barrier for the first time under head coach Trent Johnson. To put the game into perspective, at one point in the second half, TCU had more blocked shots (11) than the Delta Devils had field goals with nine.
When it was all said and done, the Frogs, who tallied 26 assists and 12 blocks Monday, amassed the most points in a single-game since scoring 108 in a triple overtime contest against Texas State in 2009.
By scoring 106 points, the Frogs, who shot over 60 percent from the field, including 52.2 percent from deep for the game, also posted the most points in regulation since dropping 106 at Tulane in 2002. In all, TCU scored 100-plus in regulation for the first time since posting a 103-45 victory over Austin College in 2011.
The Frogs, who recorded the ninth-most first half points in school history with 60, simply could not be stopped from the opening tip Monday. A 20-0 run midway through the opening frame broke the game wide open. When the period was all said and done, TCU, who shot a blistering 68.8 percent from the field during the half, had scored the most points in a first half since recording 60 against Grambling State in 2002.
Individually, with his game-high 19-point outing, senior Kyan Anderson also had a special night as he moved into No. 13 all-time in scoring in program history, surpassing all-time greats Michael Strickland, Kevin Langford and Marquise Gainous. Anderson now has 1,237 points for his career.
Anderson led the way for the Frogs, scoring a season-high 19 points on 7-for-9 from the field, including 4-of-6 from behind the arc in just 12 minutes of action. Junior Devonta Abron followed, netting a season-high 14 points on a perfect 5-for-5 from the field, while freshman Link Kabadyundi added a season and career-high 12 points on 5-for-5 shooting. Sophomore Hudson Price rounded out the Frogs' double-digit scorers, tallying 11 points.
On the glass, Karviar Shepherd carried TCU, who out-rebounded Mississippi Valley State to the tune of 52-28, grabbed a game-high 10 boards, marking his ninth double-digit rebounding total of his career.
The second half started off with the two schools going back and forth, but following a hard-fought three-point play by Abron, the Frogs had built their lead to 70-27 with 13:01 showing on the clock. Mississipi Valley State wasn't able to make any sizable dent into the Frogs substantial lead the rest of the way as the Horned Frogs moved the all-time series to 4-0.
Anderson got the Frogs going right out of the gate, drilling a deep jumper to give the Purple and White an early 2-0 advantage. A few plays later, Chris Washburn found Trey Zeigler down low for an easy bucket and the Frogs were out and running, now up 6-2 at the 17:56 mark of the opening frame of play.
The two teams would go back and forth the next couple of trips, but back-to-back triples by Anderson gave the Frogs a 12-5 advantage, nearly four minutes into the contest. The returning all-conference honoree continued his hot shooting a few trips later, tickling the twine from deep once again to move TCU up 10 with 14:06 showing on the scoreboard.
By the time Anderson drove through the entire Delta Devil defense and found pay dirt, hitting a tough three-point play, the Frogs had jumped all the way out to a 20-5 advantage off a 14-0 run. In all, the senior scored 14 of TCU's opening 20 points to start the game.
Thanks to a 20-0 run, the Frogs built a 26-5 advantage midway through the opening period. During the run, the Delta Devils didn't score from the field for almost seven minutes of action.
An up-and-under by Kabadyundi at the 7:49 mark made it a 35-11 ballgame. TCU went on to outscore MVSU the rest of the half, 25-9, to take a 60-20 lead into the break.
The Horned Frogs will return to the hardwood Wednesday when it hosts Radford, beginning at 7:00 p.m. CT.
