Boeheim's Army continues its clutch free throw shooting down the stretch of games to advance in The Basketball Tournament.
Three down, three to go. #BoeheimsArmy pic.twitter.com/Dg6sSzlzBH
— Boeheim's Army (@BoeheimsArmy) July 25, 2015
Boeheim's Army got off to a good start in Chicago against the Liberty Ballers in their third game of the tournament. The former Orange players were able to take down the two trios of former Villanova and Siena guys to advance to tomorrow's game. After tonight, only eight teams will remain in The Basketball Tournament.
The former Syracuse Orange players had a balanced attack in the first half with seven guys scoring at least 3 points or more. Mookie Jones was able to get on the board for his first points when he knocked down a triple that gave Boeheim's Army a 28-22 lead. With everyone contributing, the team was able to take a 36-32 lead at the half.
In the second half, Boeheim's Army clung to a six-point lead when they turned the ball over and Lawrence Moten murmured under his breathe...
"Agh, I just want to put these guys away."
But the Ballers hung around and took a two point lead midway through the second half. It was Terrence Roberts who provided the spark the team needed to push Boeheim's Army over the hump. Roberts was doubled near half-court when the Ballers put on a full-court press; Roberts ever-so-smoothly spun out of the double, drove the lane and lobbed to Rick Jackson for a layup that tied the game. The two left-handers worked well together and Jackson returned the favor to Roberts for the play of the game -- on the ensuing possession, Roberts threw down a two-handed flush to give Boeheim's Army a lead they would never relinquish.
Clutch free throw shooting in the final minutes by Hakim Warrick and Eric Devendorf pushed the Army past the Ballers for a final score of 78-72. Warrick lead the way with 19 points by going 11-14 from the charity stripe. Devendorf and Willie Deane, the team's starting backcourt, combined for 31 points.
Now, Boeheim's Army will face Team City Of Gods tomorrow at 8:00 P.M. ET. The game will be aired live on ESPNU and can also be streamed on ESPN3. Team City Of Gods features former Division III player of the year, Xavier Silas as well as Pops Mensah-Bonsu, Hamady Ndiaye, Roscoe Smith and Michael Sweetney. Should the team advance to the last four games in New York, the games will be aired on ESPN.
.@BoeheimsArmy wins, and Hakim Warrick has this to say. #thetournament pic.twitter.com/VO5vggihKO
— Alex Putterman (@AlexPutterman) July 25, 2015
