FORT WORTH, Texas -- Vladimir Brodziansky scored 16 points after TCU celebrated its NIT championship in a pre-game ring ceremony and the Horned Frogs held on to beat Louisiana-Monroe 83-73 in the opener Friday night.
Kenrich Williams had 13 points and game highs of 14 rebounds and seven assists on coach Jamie Dixon's 52nd birthday.
Dixon led his alma mater to the NIT title in his first season after spending his first 13 years as a head coach at Pittsburgh. TCU won for the eighth time in nine games going back to last season, including five NIT victories.