In a team that included players from their magical Final Four run, the Green Machine would fall just short of getting out of the first round in The Tournament. Despite 25 points from Bryon Allen, the Green Machine would fall to The Web 94-93. The team comprised of mainly George Mason alum would fall on a layup by The Web’s ShawnDre Jones.
The Green Machine jumped out to a quick 17-10 lead behind the hot shooting of Austin Freeman and Allen who went a combined 4-5 from the three point line during that stretch. The lead would grow to 14 by the end of the first quarter on some hot 3-point shooting (6-9 as a team). Freeman had 9 in the quarter, Allen 6.
In the second quarter, the Green Machine’s shooting cooled down as the game got more physical. The Web would heat up from the three point line hitting four of their first eight attempts, cutting the Green Machine lead from 16 to 8. The lead would get pushed back up to 11 before until some sloppy play allowed The Web to close out the half on a 7-0 run cutting Green Machine’s lead to 47-43.
The Web continued the momentum at the start of the second half. The UR alums took its first lead with 7:05 left in the third on a layup by Jones and followed it up on a three pointer giving The Web their biggest lead at four. Jones would score 7 straight for The Web in that stretch.
Green Machine would respond with a 7-0 run of their own capped by Allen’s three pointer giving them a 60-57 lead. The rest of the third quarter went back and forth Will Thomas (Green Machine) and TJ Cline (The Web) took turns making plays. Cline would eventually pick up his fourth late in the third quarter. The quarter would end with the Green Machine up 73-71.
Jones’ back to back layups would tie the game early in the fourth at 75. For most of the night Cline didn’t get a free look but he got one for a three pointer that gave The Web a 78-77 lead.
After the Green Machine went up by three, another Cline three-pointer tied the game at 81. The Green Machine would go into the Elam Ending (3:24) up 86-83.
The Web would quickly erase the three point deficit on a Darien Brothers. It was part of a 5-0 run at the beginning of the Elam Ending. The Green Machine would take the lead back briefly on a Thomas three pointer.
With the Green Machine back up by one, 91-90, Cline would make a layup giving The Web the lead back.
This is where the Elam Ending came into play. The Web would foul their way into the penalty so the Green Machine couldn’t attempt a game winning three pointer.
Campbell would go to the line and make both free throws putting the Green Machine up 93-92.
But The Web’s strategy would pay off as Jones would get a layup giving them a 94-93 victory.
Leaders
Points: Green Machine – Bryon Allen 25 points; The Web – TJ Cline 24 points
Rebounds: Green Machine – Bryon Allen 8 rebounds; The Web – TJ Cline 10 rebounds
Assists: Green Machine – Bryon Allen 3 assists; The Web -TJ Cline 4 assists
Other Games:
Overseas Elite started their quest for their fifth straight TBT Championship with a 104-76 win over the Hilltop Dawgs (UMBC). DJ Kennedy led Overseas Elite with 24 points and 13 rebounds.
In the first game of the day, Best Virginia (WVU) would defeat Royalty (ODU) 79-63. In what sounded like a West Virginia home crowd, Best Virginia would 17 points from both Jaysean Paige and Kevin Jones.
