TCU's first-half bursts lead to rout of Montana State

Field Level Media|published: Sun 22nd December, 16:33 2024

NCAA Basketball: Xavier at Texas Christian

Dec 5, 2024; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; TCU Horned Frogs head coach Jamie Dixon reacts against the Xavier Musketeers during the second half at Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Noah Reynolds scored 15 points as TCU used a big first-half run to pull away from visiting Montana State and coast to an 82-48 win on Sunday in Fort Worth, Texas.

Reynolds was only 1 of 5 from the floor but connected on 13 of 14 free throws attempts. Trazarien White scored 13 points and Vesean Allette added 11 for the Horned Frogs.

Max Agbonkpolo led the Bobcats (5-8) with 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting.

The Bobcats kept pace with TCU (7-4) for the first 13 minutes.

Brian Goracke's 3-pointer and Agbonkpolo's jumper gave Montana State a 15-12 lead with just under 12 minutes left in the half. But bursts of nine and 13 straight points later in the half gave the Horned Frogs some separation.

White drilled back-to-back 3-pointers that gave TCU a 29-19 lead and ignited the 13-0 run.

Agbonkpolo snapped the TCU scoring spree with a pull-up jumper with 3:28 left in the first half.

A turnover by Reynolds led to a jumper from Tyler Patterson on Montana State's next possession. The 4-0 run cut the lead to 36-23, the closest the Bobcats would get the rest of the game. TCU held a 42-25 halftime lead.

Montana State took an early 7-2 lead on a driving, two-hand slam by Patrick McMahon. TCU pulled even at 7-7 on Jace Posey's 3-pointer.

After trading buckets, Micah Robinson pulled down an offensive rebound, was fouled, flipped the ball up and in on a sideways circus shot and drew a foul. The old fashioned three-point play tied the game at 10-10 with 13:31 left in the first half.

In the second half, Brandon Walker's three-point play pulled Montana State within 48-31 with 15:56 left.

On a three-on-one fast break, Allette froze at the 3-point line only to launch a lob pass to Posey who soared for a two-hand dunk on the alley oop as TCU went up 56-33 with just over 14 minutes remaining.

It was the final nonconference game for TCU, which enters Big 12 Conference play on Dec. 30 at Arizona on a two-game winning streak. The Bobcats have lost three straight and enter Big Sky Conference play Jan. 2 at Idaho.

--Field Level Media