Team Barry wins inaugural Rising Stars tourney behind MVP Cade Cunningham

It's safe to say the new Rising Stars format is a success.

Team Barry won twice in a row and hit the ultimate total score of 75 to capture the first championship under the new mini-tournament set up. It won its first game 50-48 and its second 25-20.

Under the new format, 28 rookies, sophomores and G-League Ignite players were divided into four teams and pitted against each other in a single elimination bracket. The semifinal round was played to a target score of 50, and the championship round was played to 25.

After leading the way in the first round, Cade Cunningham of the Pistons carried his team again in the finals. While the first two games were evenly paced throughout, the championship game experienced significantly more swings in momentum.

Team Isiah led 18-12 midway through, putting it on the cusp of capturing the crown. Team Barry wasn't going to let that happen, however; Evan Mobley of the host team Cavaliers threw down a dunk to trim the deficit to four, and the Rockets' Alperen Sengun cashed in a three on their next possession to cut it to one.

After a turnover by Saddiq Bey of the Pistons, Jae'Sean Tate -- who hit the game-winner in Team Barry's semifinal win -- converted an and-one layup off a dime from Cunningham to give Team Barry the lead for the first time since it was 3-2.

Precious Achiuwa of the Heat hit a layup on the next possession for Team Isiah to tie it back up at 20-20. Dyson Daniels, representing the G-League Ignite, hit a free throw to put them up before subbing out for Franz Wagner of the Magic.

On the next possession, Jaden Hardy -- also representing the Ignite -- had the ball stolen from him by Tate, and Cunningham came up with it and took off the down the floor. He found Cleveland's Isaac Okoro, who quickly dished it back to Cunningham wide open beyond the arc, and last summer's top overall pick drilled the triple to make it 24-20 and put Team Isiah on the ropes.

Team Isiah couldn't score its next time down, and Cunningham stole the ball after an offensive rebound. He passed it up to Wagner, who was fouled and knocked down his first shot from the free throw line to win the game.

Cunningham finished with five points, two rebounds and three assists in a well-balanced effort by Team Barry. Tate and Mobley also both scored five, and Daniels had four points, three rebounds and two assists.

Achiuwa led all scorers with 12 points while also corralling three rebounds. Bey of the Pistons added five points, and Tyrese Haliburton of the Kings had four assists, four rebounds and two steals.