The Tribune

y BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

University of North Carolina at Greensboro Spartans’ forward Mikeal Brown-Jones called the Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championships one of the greatest tournaments he’s ever played in.

His comments came amidst the Spartans’ glowing celebrations after they captured the championship title yesterday with a nail-biting 58-57 victory over the University of Illinois at Chicago Flames in the Convention Center at Baha Mar.

“I had a lot of fun here in the Bahamas. I’m just happy we won the championship,” stated Brown-Jones of the Spartans. “I knew we would pull it off. We’re a together team. In a tough game like this, it just shows who’s the toughest team.”

To add to his excitement about being in the Bahamas, Brown-Jones carted off the most valuable player award and he was named to the All-Tournament team with team-mate Keyshaun Langley, Delaware’s Jyare Davis, George Washington’s James Bishop IV and UIC’s Isaiah Rivera.

“All praise to the Lord,” said Brown-Jones on receiving his special awards. “It’s all his doing.”

Brown-Jones and UNC, coached by Mike Jones, joined previous champions in Vermont in the initial year in 2017, followed by George Southern in 2018, Liberty in 2019, Toledo in 2021 and the University of North Carolina Wilmington took the title last year.

Jalen Breath converted a pair of throws with 3.5 seconds to seal a 58-57 lead for the University of North Carolina Greensboro.

The charity shots came just after Jaden Brownell canned a two-point with 9.4 on the clock to push UNC ahead 57-56 after a review to determine if it occurred before the shot clock expired.

Brown-Jones finished with a game high 15 points, nine rebounds and two block shots to lead UNC.

Donovan Atwell had 11 points and both Keyshaun and Kobe Langley had 10 points apiece.

UIC, coached by Luke Weasley, got 14 points from Isiash Rivers, who also had five rebounds.

Steven Clay had nine points and three rebounds, Filip Skobalj also had nine points and both CJ Jones and Jaden Brownwell added eight points each.

Meanwhile, the George Washington Revolutionaries, coached by Chris Caputo, clinched the consolation third place after they pulled away from the Delaware Blue Hens in the second half for an 81-71 victory.

James Bishop IV scored as game high 28 points with five rebounds, four assists and two steals. Maximus Edwards had 24 points, eight rebounds and two steals and Darren Buchnan Jr added 13 points with eight rebounds and two assists.

Delaware, coached by Martin Ingeisby, was led by Jyare Davis with 23 points, nine rebounds and two steals.

Gerald Drumgoole Jr had 12 points and a pair of rebounds and assists, Cavan Reilly had 11 points and three rebounds, Christian Ray had 10 points, six rebounds and four assists and Niels Lane helped out with nine points.

Results of the placement games played yesterday as well are as follows:

Bobcats 77, Bears 77: Ohio, coached by Jeff Boals, clinched the consolation third place as Shereef Mitchell scored 24 points with three steals to lead their attack.

Jaylan hunter had 21 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals and Elmore James added 18 points with eight rebounds and four assists. AJ Brown helped out with eight points.

In a losing effort for Brown, coached by Mike Martin, Kino Lilly Jr scored 21 points, three rebounds and two assists, Nana Owusu-Anane had 19 points, 11 rebounds and three assists, Kalu Anya had 12 points, six rebounds and three assists, Aaron Cooley had 10 points and five rebounds and Felix Floman had nine points.

Blue Raiders 63, Roos 59: In winning their only game of the tournament, Middle Tennessee, coached by Nick McDewitt, finished in seventh place as Jalen Jordan had a game high 21 points.

Justin Bufford had 13 points and five rebounds, Jared Coleman-Jones had nine points with six rebounds, four assists and three steals and Justin Porter added eight points.

Kansas City, coached by Marvin Menzies, remained winless for eighth place.

Artese Stapleton led the way with 14 points, four assists and three rebounds and Jamar Brown helped out with 13 points and five rebounds. In games played over the first two days of competition, George Washington def. Ohio 99-4, UIC def. Middle Tennessee 70-40, Delaware def. Brown 67-59, UNC Greensboro def. Kansas City 76-64, Brown def. Kansas City 93-83, Ohio def. Middle Tennessee 80-68, UNC Greensboro def. Delaware 88-77, UIC def. George Washington 89-79.

* The original version of this story incorrectly stated that the Flames had won the title.