TCU pounded Georgia Tech 88-56 at Madison Square Garden in New York to take home the 2017 NIT trophy. This is the second time in the last five years that a Big 12 team has taken the title -- Baylor took down Iowa back in 2013. Kenrich Williams (11.4 ppg, 9.7 rpg) was named the MVP of the championship with 25 points and 12 boards. After getting back on track late in the first half, the Yellow Jackets couldn't get things going on offense and allowed the Horned Frogs to put up 50 points in the second period to pull away.
Lammers has forgettable showing for Georgia Tech
Ben Lammers (14.2 ppg, 9.2 rpg) was held to single digits in the NIT tournament for the first time as he finished with eight points and seven boards. He made just 1-of-11 field goal attempts, only being able to boost his scoring output by hitting all six free throws. However, it wasn't just Georgia Tech's center that struggled on offense.
All in all, the Yellow Jackets fired at just a 35.7 percent clip from the field. Josh Okogie (16.1 ppg, 5.4 rpg) was one of the two players that scored in double figures with 12 points and going 4-for-12 on field goals. Quinton Stephens (10.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg) was limited to five points by hitting 2-of-8 shots and going 1-for-5 from downtown.
TCU marched to title in impressive fashion
After taking down Iowa in the second round, TCU blitzed through Richmond, UCF, and Georgia Tech to the NIT title. They won their final three games by an average of 21.7 points and they pounded their final opponent by 32. Its been a very good finish to the season despite not making the NCAA tournament.
Prior to the NIT, they were able to knock off Kansas in the Big 12 tournament before falling to Iowa State in the semifinals.
The duo of Kenrich Williams and Vladimir Brodziansky (14.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg) have been stellar throughout NIT for the Horned Frogs, and they combined to hit 16-of-29 shots in the championship. While Williams got the MVP for this game, Brodziansky arguably was the MVP of the tournament as he averaged 18.8 points in the last four games. He bounced back in a huge way after getting just five points against Fresno State in the opening round.
