TCU beats Abilene Christian in first game at new arena

TCU's men's basketball team opened its new home in the only way coach Trent Johnson cares about, with a win.

The Frogs led the entire game and their largest lead was by 17 late in the first half, but an ACU surge midway through the second half made it a two-possession game. TCU wouldn't let the Wildcats get any closer than six en rout to a 80-69 victory.

"Abilene Christian was a concern all week. They are a good basketball team," Johnson said. "We knew that if we didn't come in with our total focus this was going to be a tough basketball game.

It was the first game at the newly remodeled Schollmaier Arena after $80 million and 20 months of work. Johnson and the team loved the new-look venue.

"It was unbelievable. I told the kids this: usually you have venues like this after you win a bunch of NCAA tournament games so it's time for us to start paying people back on the court," Johnson said. "This speaks volumes about the Schollmaier's, the administration and our donors. But I told the kids that if they don't start winning games, we're going to start getting dressed outside."

The team shot well in its new surroundings in the first half as well. The team was shooting 61 percent from the field in the first 16 minutes as it built its largest lead. TCU made just 37 percent in the final 24 minutes of the game.

"I thought we got off to a really good start, but when we had to put some people in off the bench, they didn't play very well," Johnson said. "We did still improve in taking care of the ball in turnover to assist ratio."

The team was led by sophomore Malique Trent's 24 points. He did most of his damage inside and was a perfect 7-for-7 from inside the three-point arc.

"It was just my time. I struggled a bit the last couple games," Trent said. "I was impatient the last couple. I didn't let the game come to me. I did that more today."

Trent also had four assists and three rebounds Vladimir Brodziansky added another 19 points and two rebounds. Karviar Shepherd had 13 points and six rebounds. Devonta Abron added eight points and nine rebounds.

"Abron is in better shape now than he has been in the last couple years," Johnson said. "Brodziansky hadn't committed a foul in like a month. He had three today and that's not his style."

One area TCU will need to work on if it wants to compete in the Big 12 this year is rebounding. The Frogs outboarded ACU just 31-30.

"I'm concerned about our level of toughness and the ability to make tough plays at critical times," Johnson said. "I have a couple weeks to work on that before we start Big 12 play and I'm looking forward to it."

TCU (6-4) will be back in action at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Bradley (2-10). The Frogs will be back in the friendly confines of the Schollmaier Center at 7 p.m. Dec. 28 versus Delaware State (0-11) in the final non-conference game of the year.