MANHATTAN, Kan. – Zeke Mayo scored a game-high 25 points, including the go-ahead free throws, as JHX Hoops won the best-of-3 series against Purple Reign with a 62-55 victory on Friday night (July 24) before 2,452 fans at Bramlage Coliseum.
JHX Hoops advances to the single-elimination TBT quarterfinals against the defending champion Aftershocks (Wichita State alumni) on Monday night at Koch Arena in Wichita. The Aftershocks eliminated The Enchantment (New Mexico alumni), 73-67, on Friday night (July 24).
On a night when neither team shot the ball well, it was the youngest member of the Kansas alumni team that came through when it mattered most, as Mayo scored 18 of his 25 points after halftime, converting on 4-of-8 from the field, including 3-of-7 from beyond the arc, to go with a perfect 7-of-7 effort from the free throw line.
Mayo was joined in double figures by former Washburn player Jacob Hanna, who had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Frank Mason III added 9 points.
Michael Beasley led the Purple Reign with 17 points to go with 7 rebounds, 6 blocks and 3 steals, while Austin Trice had a double-double with 12 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Former Wake Forest player Brandon Childress posted 11 points to go with a game-best 5 assists.
Things looked great for the Purple Reign early as they scored the game’s first 12 points and led 16-4 with 1:17 to play in the first quarter before JHX Hoops closed out the quarter with five straight points. The Purple Reign pushed back ahead 20-11 with 6:03 left in the second quarter before a 4-point play by Mason brought JHX Hoops back to within 26-24 at the break.
A Billy Preston 3-point gave the KU alums their first lead at 27-26 in the third quarter, as the teams went back and forth before the K-Staters scored the quarter’s last 5 points to go ahead 45-39. The Purple Reign extended their lead to 50-40 after a Trice free throw with 7:03 to play. However, JHX Hoops chipped away at the deficit, as a Mayo layup made it 51-49 with less than 5 minutes left.
Purple Reign led 53-49 going into the Elam Ending with a target score of 61 but the momentum had clearly shifted to the JHX Hoops squad, as they scored 13 of the last 15 points to clinch the victory.