Tuesday, March 26
Fort Worth, Texas
8 PM
TCU
23-13
71
vs
58
Creighton
20-15
1
2
F
Creighton
33
25
58
TCU
30
41
71
Strong Second Half Pushes Frogs to NIT Semifinal
3/26/2019 11:27:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Noi scores 25 against Creighton
FORT WORTH, Texas - A strong second half and 25 points from Kouat Noi led TCU to a 71-58 win over Creighton in the quarterfinals of the NIT Tuesday at Schollmaier Arena.
After trailing by three at halftime, the Horned Frogs (23-15) scored the first 16 points of the second half, nine by Noi, and did not trail again the rest of the game. TCU won its eighth-straight NIT game and advanced to the NIT semifinal for the second time in three years.
TCU and Creighton (20-15) both started sluggish with a combined 10 points through the first four and a half minutes of action. It did not last for long as both sides began to click on offense. The Frogs and Bluejays traded baskets for the remainder of the half. The Frogs buckled down on defense, however, forcing four Creighton turnovers in the last five minutes of the half. The Bluejays took a 33-30 advantage into the locker room at halftime.
The Frogs made five of their first six shots in the second half. TCU's 16-0 run was highlighted by back-to-back slams from Kevin Samuel and JD Miller, who finished with 15 points. The Frogs' lead dipped to eight, 49-41, with 14:04 to play, but another Noi three one minute later pushed the lead to 11. TCU did not lead by fewer than 10 the rest of the game.
The Frogs shot 57.7 percent from the field in the second half to offset the Bluejays hot shooting in the first half (52.2 percent). TCU finished 46.4 percent for the game and the Frogs held Creighton to 25.7 percent in the second half and 36.2 percent for the game.
Up Next
TCU will play the winner of Wednesday's quarterfinal between Colorado and Texas in the semifinals of the NIT. The game will be played on Tuesday at either 6 or 8 p.m. CT on ESPN in New York City at Madison Square Garden.
Team Notes
- It was TCU's first meeting against Creighton since Jan. 26, 2003 when the Bluejays won 89-79 in Omaha. Additionally, it was TCU's first meeting with a Big East team since TCU beat Marquette 60-57 on Mar. 9, 2005 when both teams faced off in the Conference USA Tournament.
- TCU improved to 2-2 all-time against Creighton with both victories coming in Fort Worth. The winner of each matchup between these two sides has been the home team.
- TCU improved to 10-13 all-time against Big East opponents. The Big 12 and Big East have scheduled matchups with each other for the next four years.
- TCU held Creighton to 58 points which tied a season low for the Bluejays. It was the fifth time this season TCU held its opponent under 60 points.
- It was Jamie Dixon's first-ever meeting with Creighton as a head coach.
- The Horned Frogs improved to 45-5 against non-conference opponents overall and 30-2 against non-conference opponents at home under Jamie Dixon.
- The Horned Frogs won their eighth straight NIT game to improve to 17-6 all-time in the NIT, including 8-1 at home.
- Jamie Dixon improved to 8-1 in the NIT and 25-14 in postseason play overall as a head coach.
- TCU won its 15th home game of the season, which tied the school record set in each of the previous two seasons.
- TCU improved to 20-3 when wearing their traditional white uniforms this season.
- TCU trailed 33-30 at halftime. The Frogs improved to 4-9 in games where they trailed at halftime this season. It was the first time TCU won when trailing at the half since the SMU game on Dec. 5.
- TCU improved to 17-27 when winning the opening tip. The Frogs have won the tip in 27 of its 36 games this season (75 percent).
- TCU made seven 3-pointers, giving it 277 on the season, which was the most in a single season at TCU. Under Dixon, TCU has totaled the first, second and third most 3-pointers in a single season.
- The Frogs outrebounded Creighton 36-34. TCU is now 18-4 this season when outrebounding its opponent. TCU is 60-16 when outrebounding their opponent under Coach Dixon and are 68-17 since the 2015-16 season.
Individual Notes
- Kouat Noi scored a game-high 25 points. It was the third most he has scored in a game this season and his fourth game of 20 or more points.
- Noi was 6-of-12 from 3-point range, the second-most he's made in a game this season. It tied a TCU postseason record for most 3-pointers in a game joining Desmond Bane (Sunday vs. Nebraska) and Corey Santee (March 21, 2005 at Western Michigan).
- Alex Robinson scored 12 points and totaled 11 rebounds for his ninth double-double of the season and the 12th of his career. It was the second time this season that the senior guard recorded a double-double with points and rebounds.
- Robinson's 11 rebounds were a career high and a team high. It was only the fourth time in his career that Robinson led the team in rebounds.
- Kevin Samuel recorded four blocks and has now recorded a block in 19 consecutive games.
- Kevin Samuel moves into third in the single season blocks chart with 76.
- JD Miller scored 15 points on 5-of-11 shooting, moving him into 21st place on TCU's all-time scoring list with 1,151 career points.
After trailing by three at halftime, the Horned Frogs (23-15) scored the first 16 points of the second half, nine by Noi, and did not trail again the rest of the game. TCU won its eighth-straight NIT game and advanced to the NIT semifinal for the second time in three years.
TCU and Creighton (20-15) both started sluggish with a combined 10 points through the first four and a half minutes of action. It did not last for long as both sides began to click on offense. The Frogs and Bluejays traded baskets for the remainder of the half. The Frogs buckled down on defense, however, forcing four Creighton turnovers in the last five minutes of the half. The Bluejays took a 33-30 advantage into the locker room at halftime.
The Frogs made five of their first six shots in the second half. TCU's 16-0 run was highlighted by back-to-back slams from Kevin Samuel and JD Miller, who finished with 15 points. The Frogs' lead dipped to eight, 49-41, with 14:04 to play, but another Noi three one minute later pushed the lead to 11. TCU did not lead by fewer than 10 the rest of the game.
The Frogs shot 57.7 percent from the field in the second half to offset the Bluejays hot shooting in the first half (52.2 percent). TCU finished 46.4 percent for the game and the Frogs held Creighton to 25.7 percent in the second half and 36.2 percent for the game.
Up Next
TCU will play the winner of Wednesday's quarterfinal between Colorado and Texas in the semifinals of the NIT. The game will be played on Tuesday at either 6 or 8 p.m. CT on ESPN in New York City at Madison Square Garden.
Team Notes
- It was TCU's first meeting against Creighton since Jan. 26, 2003 when the Bluejays won 89-79 in Omaha. Additionally, it was TCU's first meeting with a Big East team since TCU beat Marquette 60-57 on Mar. 9, 2005 when both teams faced off in the Conference USA Tournament.
- TCU improved to 2-2 all-time against Creighton with both victories coming in Fort Worth. The winner of each matchup between these two sides has been the home team.
- TCU improved to 10-13 all-time against Big East opponents. The Big 12 and Big East have scheduled matchups with each other for the next four years.
- TCU held Creighton to 58 points which tied a season low for the Bluejays. It was the fifth time this season TCU held its opponent under 60 points.
- It was Jamie Dixon's first-ever meeting with Creighton as a head coach.
- The Horned Frogs improved to 45-5 against non-conference opponents overall and 30-2 against non-conference opponents at home under Jamie Dixon.
- The Horned Frogs won their eighth straight NIT game to improve to 17-6 all-time in the NIT, including 8-1 at home.
- Jamie Dixon improved to 8-1 in the NIT and 25-14 in postseason play overall as a head coach.
- TCU won its 15th home game of the season, which tied the school record set in each of the previous two seasons.
- TCU improved to 20-3 when wearing their traditional white uniforms this season.
- TCU trailed 33-30 at halftime. The Frogs improved to 4-9 in games where they trailed at halftime this season. It was the first time TCU won when trailing at the half since the SMU game on Dec. 5.
- TCU improved to 17-27 when winning the opening tip. The Frogs have won the tip in 27 of its 36 games this season (75 percent).
- TCU made seven 3-pointers, giving it 277 on the season, which was the most in a single season at TCU. Under Dixon, TCU has totaled the first, second and third most 3-pointers in a single season.
- The Frogs outrebounded Creighton 36-34. TCU is now 18-4 this season when outrebounding its opponent. TCU is 60-16 when outrebounding their opponent under Coach Dixon and are 68-17 since the 2015-16 season.
Individual Notes
- Kouat Noi scored a game-high 25 points. It was the third most he has scored in a game this season and his fourth game of 20 or more points.
- Noi was 6-of-12 from 3-point range, the second-most he's made in a game this season. It tied a TCU postseason record for most 3-pointers in a game joining Desmond Bane (Sunday vs. Nebraska) and Corey Santee (March 21, 2005 at Western Michigan).
- Alex Robinson scored 12 points and totaled 11 rebounds for his ninth double-double of the season and the 12th of his career. It was the second time this season that the senior guard recorded a double-double with points and rebounds.
- Robinson's 11 rebounds were a career high and a team high. It was only the fourth time in his career that Robinson led the team in rebounds.
- Kevin Samuel recorded four blocks and has now recorded a block in 19 consecutive games.
- Kevin Samuel moves into third in the single season blocks chart with 76.
- JD Miller scored 15 points on 5-of-11 shooting, moving him into 21st place on TCU's all-time scoring list with 1,151 career points.
Team Stats
CU
TCU
FG%
.362
.464
3FG%
.290
.350
FT%
.500
.750
RB
34
36
TO
15
13
STL
6
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
12
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
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