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Alex Robinson’s philosophy has been that it is better to give than to receive. The senior guard for TCU, coming into the week second nationally in assist average (8.6), kept up that generosity on Christmas Day when leading the Horned Frogs to the 10th Diamond Head Classic championship.
Robinson had four of TCU’s 14 assists to break the tournament record with 26 in three games as the Horned Frogs (11-1) won their eighth straight when defeating Indiana State, 83-69. Robinson also got it done from the charity stripe, going 6-for-9 from the line, to finish with a game-high 15 points.
Robinson also ended up on the receiving end, walking out of the Stan Sheriff Center with the Most Valuable Player trophy. Joining him on the all-tournament team were TCU teammate Jaylen Fisher, Hawaii’s Zigmars Raimo, Jordan Barnes of Indiana State and Nate Sestina from Bucknell.
The Sycamores (8-4) led once at 7-6 and trailed by as many as 22 with 9:38 to go. TCU went without a field goal for nearly six minutes and ISU used an 11-0 run to pull to within 71-60.
Robinson scored six points during an 8-0 burst to have the Horned Frogs pull away for good. Senior guard JD Miller added a double-double (12 points-11 rebounds) for TCU, which next plays Hawaii Pacific on Friday.
For the Sycamores, who lost at TCU 90-70 on Dec. 16, Barnes finished with 14 points, well off his 21.5 average. Sophomore guard Tyreke Key also had 14.
Bucknell 97, UNLV 72
Sophomore point guard Jimmy Sotos scored 14 points and added a tournament-record 12 assists to lead the Bison (6-6) over the Rebels (6-6) for third place.
Senior guard Kimbal Mackenzie finished with 16 points and Bucknell hit 14 3-pointers when leading by as many as 36 points in the second half. Freshman forward Joel Ntambe had a team-high 13 points for UNLV.
Colorado 68, Charlotte 53
Junior forward Lucas Stewart scored 17 points as the Buffaloes (9-3) rallied past the 49ers (3-8) for seventh place.
Down by eight with 5:20 left in the first, Colorado closed out the half on a 19-2 run to lead 35-26.
Senior guard Jon Davis scored 25 points for Charlotte, which has lost six of its last seven.
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