CINCINNATI — The Nasty Nati TBT team fell in round one of the event on Monday 71-67, but they did have a stellar highlight from the short stint in the tournament.
Guard Jacob Evans led the team with 20 points and hit this shocking bomb from way past halfcourt to give UC a three-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Fort Wayne Champs leading scorer Tayler Persons (26 points, eight rebounds) hit a jumper in the lane to send the Ft. Wayne Champs past Nasty Nati. The Bearcats brought that patented UC defensive intensity to Cintas Center, yet Persons was too much to stop.
He had a hand in his face all night long but kept banging home shots at the right moments for the Champs. Nasty Nati was led in scoring by Evans, followed by Jarron Cumberland (13 points) and Coreontae Deberry (10 points). The latter was unstoppable in the post until Fort Wayne installed a 1-3-1 zone in the second half to regain control of the game.
General Manager Kevin Johnson said postgame that he is happy with his team's effort and that he hopes the structure of the team brings even more talented Bearcats alumni (Lance Stephenson, Sean Kilpatrick) into the fold for next year's event.
More must-reads: