TCU wins first game at Schollmaier Arena behind Malique Trent’s 24 points

The first basket in competition at Ed and Rae Schollmaier came from TCU forward Vladimir Brodziansky.

The first two, actually.

But it was point guard Malique Trent who ended up with the most points, 24, to lead all scorers in the first game at the renovated facility, an 80-69 victory for the Horned Frogs on Sunday against Abilene Christian.

Trent, a sophomore from Portsmouth, Va., made 8 of 13 shots to finish with a season-high in points, and — more importantly to coach Trent Johnson — had only two turnovers in his 33 minutes.

For Johnson, that was as fine a way as any to christen the new arena, formerly Daniel-Meyer Coliseum, fresh off a $72 million makeover.

“He took care of the ball, and he got everybody involved,” Johnson said. “When I look at this tape, for me, what’s going to stand out is we came out and wanted to have an inside presence because we had a size advantage, and Malique was the guy that was passing the ball into the post.”

That’s why Brodziansky had the first two baskets of the game, a layup off an assist from center Karviar Shepherd and a short jumper off an assist from Trent, en route to matching a season high with 19 points.

Brandon Parrish followed with a 3-pointer, Brodziansky hit another basket, and Shepherd made a 3-pointer as the Horned Frogs (6-4) made nine of their first 10 shots.

“I do,” Trent said, asked if he believes he must play a big part for TCU. “With my aggressiveness and the way that I score, I do. But other than that, I think we have a good variety of players. So I don’t think I have a big role — just come in and be ready, that’s all.”

Shepherd finished with 13 points, and Devonta Abron had eight points and nine rebounds.

Jaren Lewis led ACU (4-7) with 16 points.

After the hot start, TCU shot 19-for-48, committed eight second-half turnovers, and allowed ACU to bring the the lead under 10 points into the final minute.

But Shepherd and Trent went 6-for-6 on foul shots in the last 40 seconds, and the Frogs got to celebrate a victory on their new home floor with the start of Big 12 play looming in less than two weeks.

The Frogs visit Bradley on Tuesday and host Delaware State on Dec. 28 in the final tuneups before the league schedule begins Jan. 2 at Oklahoma State, followed by a home game two days later against West Virginia.

“Are we better? Yes, we are,” Johnson said. “Do we take care of the ball better, do we shoot free throws better, do we score the ball better? Probably.

“But my big concern is we don’t take care of it as well as we need to, we don’t rebound it as well as we need to, and I’m really concerned about our level of toughness and being able to make tough plays at crucial times. But that responsbility in the next two, three weeks lies on me to get these guys ready.”

This story was originally published December 20, 2015 at 4:35 PM with the headline "TCU wins first game at Schollmaier Arena behind Malique Trent’s 24 points."