Real live competitive basketball is back in the United States and two former Spartans are making early waves.
Former MSU basketball players Nick Ward and Javon Bess helped lead team Big X to a first-round 79 to 74 win over team D2–comprised of former D2 players–in The Basketball Tournament, a $1 million winner-take-all single-elimination summer basketball tournament. Ward, a rookie center for the College Park Skyhawks of the NBA G-League, led the way on offense, scoring a team-high 18 points to go with his five rebounds. Bess, who plays professionally for the Erie Bayhawks of the G-League, turned in a solid all-around performance with 11 points, six rebounds, and three assists.
Team Big X, the nine seed, advances to play Red Scare, the eight seed. Red Scare is comprised of a number of former Dayton basketball players.
Also taking part in the tournament are MSU alums Brendan Dawson and Brandon Wood. Those two will suit up for the No. 14 seed Team Heartfire. They take on Men of Mackey–a team made up of a number of Purdue alum–in the first round on Sunday, July 5 at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN.
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