TCU dominates USC 96-61 in hoops tripleheader at Staples

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Alex Robinson stood smiling at center court with the MVP plaque. Then he turned around and repeatedly urged his teammates over.

After all, it was hardly a one-man show when TCU drubbed Southern California 96-61 for its fourth straight victory at the Basketball Hall of Fame Classic tripleheader on Friday night.

“I feel like it was a team effort so I didn’t feel like I should be out there celebrating by myself,” said Robinson, who scored 15 points to lead six players in double figures.

The Horned Frogs (7-1) dominated throughout in front of a slew of NBA executives and scouts at Staples Center.

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“We’re playing good basketball right now and we’re getting better,” TCU coach Jamie Dixon said.

USC (5-4) never made a sustained run in dropping its second in a row. Bennie Boatwright scored 14 points and Nick Rakocevic added 13, making 9 of 10 free throws.

“This is an embarrassing loss for us,” coach Andy Enfield said.

TCU hit a season-high 12 3-pointers, led by Jaylen Fisher with five, which equaled his career high set at SMU two nights earlier. Fisher finished with 15 points.

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“He’s huge for us,” Robinson said of Fisher. “He spreads the floor, he creates for others and he’s a good presence on defense.”

Robinson, the nation’s assist leader, had eight. Kouat Noi and JD Miller had 14 points each.

The Horned Frogs breezed to a 20-point halftime lead on their way to piling up a season-best 96 points.

They went up by 30 midway through the second half when Desmond Bane, Robinson, Noi and Miller combined to score TCU’s first 30 points.

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The Trojans shot a season-low 32 percent and committed a season-high 20 turnovers that led to 27 points for TCU.

“Did not see this coming,” Enfield said. “We had a decent week of practice and we just did not perform.”

TIP-INS

TCU: The Horned Frogs controlled the boards, 41-33, led by a career-high 13 from Kevin Samuel. … The game marked a homecoming for Dixon, who is from nearby North Hollywood.

USC: The Trojans tied their lowest point total of the season. … They also play their next two games away from Galen Center.

TOPPING 1,000

Robinson topped 1,000 points for his collegiate career, which began at Texas A&M. The senior guard has 1,008.

UP NEXT

TCU: Hosts Indiana State on Dec. 16.

USC: At Oklahoma on Dec. 15.

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More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/Collegebasketball and http://www.twitter.com/AP_Top25

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