Despite using a 10th different starting lineup, No. 21 TCU kept its winning streak rolling with an easy 88-43 win over Mississippi Valley State on Sunday.
The Horned Frogs (9-1) were without center Eddie Lampkin due to a back issue, but his absence was overcome with a brilliant shooting display in the first half.
“Has anybody ever done that? 10 different lineups that’s hard to do,” coach Jamie Dixon said after the win.
“I liked how we played. I think our offense is really understanding across the board what we’re trying to do and it’s continuing to get better,” Dixon said. “I thought we took care of business the way you want to take care of business in a situation like this.”
Known for their struggles from 3-point line, TCU made their first six 3s to take an early lead over the Devils. Mississippi Valley briefly had it tied at 8 earlier in the half, but TCU responded with a 13-0 run.
During the run and during the first half, it felt like the Horned Frogs couldn’t miss and for awhile they didn’t. Rondel Walker knocked down the sixth straight 3-pointer to make it 27-11 and the game was never competitive after that that point. Dixon said the ball movement was key to TCU’s early success.
“18 assists on 19 of our (first half) baskets. So that that just says a lot about how you’re playing,” Dixon said. “You’re playing together. You’re playing unselfish.”
Emanuel Miller threw down an alley-oop dunk and then Micah Peavy buried a corner 3-pointer just before the halftime buzzer as TCU led 53-20 at the break. It was TCU’s largest halftime lead of the season and was well-earned after TCU put on an offensive clinic in the first 20 minutes.
Mike Miles Jr. led TCU with 15 points as four Horned Frogs finished in double figures. TCU has won seven games in a row and has just two games left in its non-conference slate.
Miles makes it look easy
The preseason Big 12 Player of the Year had his way with the overmatched Devils defense. Miles was one of the main catalysts to TCU’s early success shooting the ball. He knocked down his first three long range attempts with his third 3-pointer putting the Horned Frogs ahead 35-15 with just over six minutes remaining before halftime.
“I knew if I just got open my teammates would find me and that’s what they did,” Miles said. “The shots went in, we all made shots tonight. We were catching it in rhythm, we were sharing the ball. When you catch it in rhythm it’s easy to knock it down.”
Miles added another bucket later as he led TCU with 11 points in the first half. He had a light load in the second half as the Horned Frogs pulled further away from Mississippi Valley. His reverse acrobatic layup was one of the many highlights from the second half and put TCU ahead 61-22.
“I thought Mike was really good today,” Dixon said. “He just did everything right, he played how you’re supposed to play in a 40 point win.”
As he rested Damion Baugh stepped up with 12 points, three assists and three steals.
Peavy shines on defense
Micah Peavy has shown signs of improvement as an offensive player this season, which has the coaching staff and TCU fanbase excited for his potential. But on Sunday, it was his trademark defense that provided the biggest impact for TCU. Peavy was one of the reasons TCU held the Devils without a 3-pointer. It was the first time the Horned Frogs have held an opponent without a 3 since 2015.
“They shoot 36% from three so that was something we were concerned about,” Dixon said. “Obviously they didn’t get any tonight. So that was something that I was very happy with our guys.”
Peavy took just one shot in the first half, but he picked up four steals. His third came after nearly forcing a shot clock violation and he found a streaking Miles for the bucket afterwards. After grabbing his fourth steal, he hit a 3-pointer for the first time since TCU’s win over Iowa on Nov. 26.
Peavy drew a charge to open the second half and helped shut down Valley’s leading scorer Terry Collins. Collins averaged 15 points per game, but was held to eight points on 4-of-13 shooting from the field. Peavy got his offense going a bit down the stretch and finished with nine points
Controlling the paint
With Lampkin out for the game, coach Jamie Dixon needed somebody to step up down low. Emanuel Miller and JaKobe Coles were more than fit to handle the task. Miller stuffed the stat sheet with 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists in just 20 minutes as he battled on the block all night.
Miller found Chuck O’Bannon for back-to-back highlights dunks to entertain the Schollmaier Arena crowd. Coles usually makes his impact with his 3-point shooting, but he had to be more gritty against the Devils. Coles had a season-high nine rebounds to complement 12 points. Xavier Cork chipped in nine points and six rebounds starting for Lampkin.
“Coach’s expectations for all of us are equal,” Cork said. “He expects the most out of all of us when it comes to practice as well as performing in the game. As far as preparation, nothing really changes. We just do what we do in practice to the best of our abilities and just get ready.”
