By: Josh Goldfine
Monday, July 26
(4) Always Us vs (5) Autism Army, 2p EDT, ESPN3
Two teams that had strong second halves in their respective opening-round victories will battle for a spot in the Round of 16. Always Us is a University of Oregon alumni squad that features Tajuan Porter, Jonathan Lloyd and MiKyle McIntosh. Playing on behalf of the Life’s WORC organization, which provides care and support for those with developmental disabilities, Autism Army ran away from SCD Hoops in the second half of its opening-round win. D’Angelo Harrison poured in a game-high 29 points.
(1) Golden Eagles vs (9) Playing for Jimmy V, 4p EDT, ESPN3
The defending TBT champion Golden Eagles will take on a squad which just won its first-ever TBT game. A Marquette University alumni squad, the Golden Eagles are loaded once again, Scoring threats Dwight Buycks and Jamil Wilson are once again supplemented by the versatile Elgin Cook, who led the Golden Eagles in both scoring and rebounding in the opening-round win. Tyler Stone and Jordan Swing led the way offensively for Playing for Jimmy V in the opening-round win with 16 points apiece. Stingy defense held Team Brotherly Love to just four fourth-quarter points and 1-for-20 three-point shooting.
(3) Boeheim’s Army vs (11) Team HeartFIRE, 7p EDT, ESPN2
Boeheim’s Army, the highly-touted Syracuse alumni squad, needed a late escape in a Round 1 win over Forces of Seoul. Tyrese Rice turned it on late and finished with a team-high 20 points in the victory. Newcomers D.J. Kennedy and DeAndre Kane will be counted on to contribute more if Boeheim’s Army is to take home its first TBT title. Tevin Mack and Jared Wilson-Frame paced the scoring attack in Team Heartfire’s first-round victory over The Overlooked.
(7) Always A Brave vs (15) Jackson TN UnderDawgs, 9p EDT, ESPN2
Always A Brave is coming off one of the more exciting wins in TBT history, erasing a record 13-point deficit during the Elam Ending and winning in dramatic fashion on a layup from TBT veteran Marcus Sommerville. Sommerville, the former Bradley University star, scored 11 of his 17 points during the Elam Ending, which included 30 possessions between the two teams. The Jackson TN Underdawgs continue to amaze in TBT. Five years after stunning the top-seeded University of Kentucky alumni team, the Underdawgs sent heavily-favored House of ‘Paign home for the summer in Round 1. The Underdawgs rely on a deep bench and stingy defense.
