TCU 87, George Mason 53: Frogs dismantle Patriots heading into Big 12 play

Fort Worth, Texas - TCU obliterated George Mason on Monday night, never trailing in an 87-53 victory.

Desmond Bane led all scorers with 30 points, going 12-16 from the floor and 5-7 from deep. It was a team effort for TCU, though, as nine different Horned Frogs scored. PJ Fuller added 12 points, five rebounds, and four assists, while Kevin Samuel contributed seven points, seven rebounds, and six blocks.

Seven Frogs made a three-pointer, while five had five or more rebounds, in what was easily TCU’s most complete game of the season. The Frogs shot 57.9% from the floor, 58.3% from three, had 23 assists on 33 made baskets, and had 13 offensive rebounds on just 24 missed shots.

Jaire Grayer, facing his old squad, contributed five points and six rebounds. The grad transfer from George Mason mentioned that there was a little added motivation - as well as a few more nerves - heading into this game.

“It’s not common for you to transfer from a team and play against that team,” Grayer said afterward. “It was pretty fun for me, seeing those guys and playing against them.”

The Frogs scored first, ten seconds into the contest on a Kevin Samuel basket, and never looked back. TCU pulled out to a 10-0 lead through the first five minutes of the contest, while also putting on a great defensive display. George Mason’s first basket came at the 14:28 mark of the first half, but it was never closer than that the rest of the way.

Beyond the opening salvo, TCU outscored George Mason 21-6 through the first ten minutes of the half, thanks in large part to very hot shooting from Bane.

Bane scored 21 first-half points, including going 4-5 from three point range, as TCU carried a 48-26 lead into the break. Helping the Frogs maintain and expand that lead was exceptional ball control - TCU turned it over just twice in the first half, while forcing George Mason into seven.

TCU continued to pull away in the second half, leading by as many as 38 points as they kept pouring in baskets and shutting down the Patriots.

For George Mason it was their worst offensive game of the season, scoring ten fewer points than their previous low on the year - an 86-63 loss to No. 6 Maryland. It’s the second blemish on the Patriots record, as the once Cinderella story shot just 32.7% from the floor on the night.

Now TCU turns their attention to the Big 12 grind, hoping that this win can provide some momentum heading into an insanely tough conference slate.

Big 12 play gets underway for TCU when the Frogs host Iowa State on Saturday, at 5pm.

Check out the full postgame comments below: