INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Yogi Ferrell, Juwan Morgan, Devonte Green, Race Thompson. Four former Indiana basketball standouts were back on the court, this time all together, as Assembly Ball — IU’s alumni team — took the court for its opening round game in TBT. In front of a very loud and packed Hinkle Fieldhouse, filled with Indiana fans, they did not disappoint, taking down The Cru 89-79.
Assembly Ball entered as the one-seed in the Butler Region and had the talent to back that up. While there was a clear talent advantage for Indiana, it took a while for the rust to shake off for most — except Yogi Ferrell. The former Indiana basketball star point guard hit the first three of the game — en route to 18 first-half points and four 3s. Then it was Juwan Morgan who hit the next shot for Assembly Ball. Former Hoosiers combined to score or assist on the first 10 points and then the first 13 of 15 points of the game.
The Cru, the Valparaiso alumni team, kept it close for most of the first half until the last few minutes when Assembly Ball — on the back of Yogi Ferrell — proved too much. They began to flex their muscles on both ends of the court and took a 10-point lead into the half.
It was a bit of a sluggish start to the third quarter with the lead hanging around 10-13 points for the majority of the first part of the quarter. After The Cru snuck back into single digits, it was back-to-back 3s from Devonte Green and Tyrell Terry — former Stanford guard and 31st overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft — to push it back to 15 points.
Every time The score went back to single digits, Assembly Ball would respond the very next possession, thanks to the playmaking skills of Ferrell — who finished with 27 points and six assists.
The Cru would get as close as four points during the Elam Ending — but failed to convert on a few chances they had late to put even more pressure on Assembly Ball.
Miami forward Julian Gamble was strong on both ends of the floor for Assembly Ball, finishing with 17 points and six rebounds. Juwan Morgan ended with 12 points, 10 rebounds and three assists.
Next up for Assembly Ball is a matchup with Men of Mackey — Purdue’s alumni team — on Sunday at 8:00 pm ET.
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