Eberlein Drive eliminates Assembly Ball in a physical battle ending their TBT run

Assembly Ball crashed out in the Round of 16 of the TBT, losing 82-79 to Eberlein Drive in a physical battle. The IU Basketball alumni were missing some key pieces as they struggled to get anything going offensively.

Juwan Morgan who had 12 points and 10 rebounds in the opening game missed the entire game with an elbow injury he suffered against the Men of Mackey in the second round. Julian Gamble who averaged 14 points and 8.5 rebounds through the first two games missed the entire second half after just four points in ten first-half minutes.

Losing Morgan and Gamble forced Assembly Ball to play with an extremely undersized lineup. Former Oklahoma Sooner Kristian Doolittle (6-foot-7) was forced to play extensive minutes at center due to the injuries. Doolittle finished the game with 10 points and 13 rebounds.

A strong start had the IU Basketball alumni put them up seven in the first quarter, but a 21-4 run put Eberlein Drive up 11 early in the second quarter and they never relinquished the lead as the team of IU Basketball alumni struggled offensively.

The team of former Hoosiers shot 38.6% from the field and went 11/36 from three.

Assembly Ball couldn’t crawl back despite a heroic late effort from Yogi Ferrell. Ferrell scored nine late points to cut the 14-point deficit to one but it was not enough. The former Hoosier guard struggled early, missing his first seven shots. He turned it on late and finished with 21 points and seven assists while shooting 6-19 from the field.

Keith Hornsby also played a big role for Assembly Ball, scoring 14 points while Miller Kopp who just returned from the NBA Summer League contributed with 10 points.

For Eberlein Drive, it was Jake Stephens and Anthony Clemmons who led the way. Stephens finished the game with 18 points and five rebounds and scored the final bucket on a tip-in to win it for his team. Clemmons added 17 points, four rebounds, and four assists to help lead his team.

With high expectations coming into the tournament, it was a disappointing finish for the top-seeded Assembly Ball in their inaugural TBT appearance as they could not get out of the Butler Regional Final.

Eberlein Drive now will face the winner of Happy Valley Hoopers and Zoo Crew for a spot in the TBT semifinals in Philadelphia.

SEE ALSO: Former IU basketball center Kel’el Ware receives high praise for play during NBA Summer League

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