Former Kansas State star Michael Beasley scored a game-high 20 points to lead Purple Reign to an 80-61 victory over JHX Hoops in Game 1 of the teams’ best-of-three first-round series in The Basketball Tournament on Tuesday night at Bramlage Coliseum.
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The nationally televised rivalry matchup renewed the Sunflower Showdown between Kansas and Kansas State alumni teams, with Purple Reign taking a 1-0 series lead and moving within one win of advancing to the Alumni Bracket semifinals.
JHX Hoops entered the game shorthanded after adding former Kansas forwards Jamari Traylor and Billy Preston to the roster earlier Tuesday following the absences of Darnell Jackson and DJ Burns. Preston made an immediate impact, leading the Jayhawks with 15 points and seven rebounds in his team debut. Zeke Mayo added 12 points, while Jacob Hanna finished with 10 points and six rebounds off the bench.
Purple Reign controlled the game from the opening tip, using a 10-1 run to build an early advantage. Beasley knocked down an early 3-pointer after Preston scored JHX’s first field goal, helping Kansas State’s alumni maintain momentum throughout the first quarter.
The Wildcats alumni extended their lead to 39-25 by halftime behind Beasley’s 13 first-half points while forcing 12 JHX turnovers. Kansas struggled offensively throughout the opening 20 minutes and never found a consistent rhythm.
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JHX mounted its best push in the third quarter. Preston, Mayo and Hanna helped trim the deficit to single digits late in the period, cutting Purple Reign’s lead to 55-47. However, the Jayhawks never got closer than eight points the rest of the way.
Austin Trice added 16 points on 8-of-9 shooting for Purple Reign, while Xavier Sneed finished with 16 points and eight rebounds. Shaun Williams contributed 15 points off the bench as four Kansas State alumni scored in double figures.
Purple Reign forced 19 turnovers that led to a 26-9 advantage in points off turnovers and outscored JHX Hoops 40-22 in the paint while shooting 51.7% from the field.
The series shifts to Lee Arena in Topeka on Wednesday at 7 p.m. JHX Hoops must win to force a decisive Game 3 Friday, while Purple Reign can clinch the series with another victory.
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