TCU opens Australian tour with blowout victory for new Frogs player and his mom

Senior forward Vlad Brodziansky scored 22 points, and senior guard Kenrich Williams had a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds as TCU opened its Australian tour with a 108-54 victory against the Savannah Pride on Tuesday at Kevin Betts Stadium in Mount Druitt, New South Wales.

The Pride is a team of players of South Sudanese descent, some of whom grew up with TCU forward Kouat Noi, a Newcastle, Australia, native who played two years of high school basketball in the United States before signing with TCU.

Noi had 12 points and six rebounds, playing in front of his mother for the first time in six years.

“It’s a blessing,” Noi said in quotes provided by TCU. “I haven’t been home in a while. Just to have this crowd and some of the kids looking up to me, it’s humbling.”

His dunk gave TCU a 67-27 lead in the third quarter.

Desmond Bane added 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists for the Horned Frogs, who are playing a five-game exhibition schedule. Their next game is on Thursday against Basketball Australia’s Center of Excellence (COE) at Minto Indoor Sports Centre in New South Wales. Tip time is 5 a.m. Texas time.

TCU 80, Hornsby Spiders 46

Amy Okonkwo scored 15 points, and Jordan Moore had 10 rebounds and three blocks for the TCU women in an 80-46 victory against the Hornsby Spiders at Kevin Betts Stadium. Toree Thompson added 11 points and Dakota Vann 10 for the Horned Frogs, who allowed 25 percent shooting.

TCU will play its next game at 3 a.m. Texas time on Wednesday against COE at Minto Indoor Sports Centre.

This story was originally published August 8, 2017 at 9:55 AM with the headline "TCU opens Australian tour with blowout victory for new Frogs player and his mom."