TOPEKA, Kan. – Frank Mason III paced four players in double figures with 23 points, as JHX Hoops rallied from a 13-point fourth quarter deficit to post an 84-80 win over Purple Reign and force a decisive game three on Friday night (July 24) at Bramlage Coliseum.
Tickets to Friday’s game at Bramlage Coliseum can be purchased through the K-State Athletics Ticket Office here. Tip time is set for 6 p.m., CT and will be broadcast on FS2.
Mason scored 12 of his 23 points in the decisive fourth quarter, including the game-winner to eclipse the target score of 83 set by the Elam Ending with 3:21 to play. Ten of his 12 points came with less than 5 minutes remaining, in which he helped flip a 73-60 deficit into an 80-all tie.
Following Mason’s game-tying layup, a Billy Preston jumper gave JHX Hoops their first lead since it was 7-6 on the next possession for an 82-80 edge. Mason then rebounded his own miss for the game-winning layup for the 84-80 win and tie the series.
Mason was joined in double figures by Preston (18 points), Zeke Mayo (14 points) and former Washburn player Jacob Hanna (12 points).
Purple Reign, who won Tuesday’s opener before 3,192 fans at Bramlage Coliseum, was led by a game-high 27 points from Xavier Sneed. He was joined in double figures by Michael Beasley (16 points) and Shaun Williams (15 points). Austin Trice grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds.
Sneed scored 20 of his game-high 27 points in the first half, as Purple Reign led 22-17 at the first quarter and 47-33 at halftime. JHX Hoops closed to within 59-55 with 2:07 left in the third quarter before Purple Reign scored 6 of the last 9 points for a 65-58 lead heading into the final quarter.
The lead grew to as many as 13 points (73-60) after a 3-pointer by DaJuan Gordon with 6:53 to play. Purple Reign led 75-67 when the Elam Ending was activated with a target score of 83. A Trice layup made it 79-73 before JHX Hoops scored 7 of the next 8 points to tie it an 80-all. Preston and Mason then finished things off with a jumper and layup.