The TCU men’s basketball team extended the nation’s longest winning streak to 13 Saturday night, as they defeated the Yale Bulldogs, 92-66.
The Horned Frogs overcame a slow start in the first few minutes of the game with an 11-0 run that put them up 17-12, and they never looked back. They did not trail for the rest of the game and went on to win by 26 against a Yale team that is projected to finish first in the Ivy League.
“Granted, it is not a Big 12 favorite, it’s a team that is going to win games and is dangerous and has beaten people, so a good win for us,” TCU head coach Jamie Dixon said.
Efficiency was the theme of the night for the Horned Frogs, as they shot 59 percent from the field and set their season high for made field goals with 38.
“Offensively, I thought we were really good throughout,” Dixon said of the team’s performance. He highlighted their ability to shoot threes and get into the post effectively.
Sophomore guard Desmond Bane led the team in scoring with 18 points, with all of his points coming from his five three-pointers and three free throws. He scored his 12-second half points in just six minutes, allowing the Horned Frogs to stretch their halftime lead of 14 to 23 with just under 15 minutes left in the game.
Dixon said the team will look to get Bane even more involved.
“His numbers really stand out, so you have to give him more looks,” Dixon said.
Fellow sophomore guard Jaylen Fisher said that the team definitely looks to keep Bane involved.
“If he hits two in a row, three in a row, we definitely look to feed him,” Fisher said. “We know he can run them off real easy.”
Speaking of Fisher, he chipped in 17 points on an 8-10 shooting night to go along with seven assists and just one turnover.
Junior guard Alex Robinson scored a season-high 13 points coming off of the bench for the Frogs. He had 5 assists and did not commit a turnover.
“I think the biggest thing is the point guards,” Dixon said. “We really talked to them, sat down and watched film with them. We got more penetration and passing out of them. Even though they both scored, I felt that they did a better job of getting our guys shots, and that’s what we needed to do on some penetrations.”
The Horned Frogs finished with just 9 turnovers on the night, their lowest total of the season. Their 22 assists were the third-highest mark they’ve posted this year.
“We like moving the ball,” Fisher said. “It’s just fun. Everybody gets their touches and everybody gets their shots, so we really don’t have any complaints and everyone likes playing together.”
The Horned Frogs will look to get their third win as an AP-ranked team when they face the SMU Mustangs Tuesday night in Schollmaier Arena at 8 p.m.
