The magic for Carmen's Crew came to an end on Saturday.
Despite a solid first half, The Ohio State alumni basketball team couldn't make enough shots down the stretch to secure a spot in the TBT quarterfinals, as No. 2 Friday Beers took home a 72-63 victory Saturday at the Regional Final in Dayton.
Kaleb Wesson had a team-high 18 points for Carmen's Crew, while Scott Thomas chipped in 16. No other Carmen's Crew player was in double figures. The Ohio State alumni basketball team shot 44 percent from the field in the contest, including making 7 of 19 3-pointers. Friday Beers only shot 42 percent from the floor but made 11 shots from beyond the arc. Gabe York and Rion Brown each had a game-high 19 points for Friday Beers, with Julian Gamble being the only other player in double figures with 12.
The Ohio State alumni basketball team started the contest fast, racing out to a 22-15 lead after the first quarter, leading by as many as 10 points in the first quarter. Scott Thomas had a quarter-high eight points and bolstered Carmen's crew by going 2-of-3 beyond the arc.
Carmen's Crew shot 9-of-16 in the quarter (56 percent) and held Friday Beers to 31 percent shoot in the period, thanks in large part due to defensive plays like this.
Kyle Young doing the dirty work... what a surprise!
— Carens Crew (@CarmensCrew) July 29, 2023
How could you now love KY???
pic.twitter.com/hlHWGrws6h
In the second, Friday Beers narrowly trimmed the lead, but the Ohio State alumni basketball team maintained the lead heading into halftime with a 39-34 advantage. Thomas had 13 points on a 5 of 8 shooting clip in the half, converting 3 of 4 three-point shots, while Kaleb Wesson chipped in six points.
WE LOVE SCOTT THOMAS
— Carens Crew (@CarmensCrew) July 29, 2023
In the first half he dropped 13 points, 4 rebounds and 1 SICK assist!
We lead 38-34 at half with the second half coming up on @ESPNPlus... GREAT HALF pic.twitter.com/HxZpJoWue0
Carmen's Crew shot 15-of-29 (51 percent) in the half and converted 6 of 13 3-pointers. The first-half defensive effort was stout, as Friday Beers only shot 38 percent from the floor, but stayed in the game after converting 7 of 18 shots beyond the arc.
Friday Beers opened the third quarter on a 15-5 run to eventually erase the Carmen's Crew lead and led 55-51 entering the fourth quarter. The Ohio State alumni basketball team cut the deficit to three at 66-63 with a target score of 72, but back-to-back 3-pointers from Friday Beers sunk Carmen's Crew, including Dee Bost who hit the game-winner on a one-footed, off-balance shot.
DEE BOST THERE IS NO WAY YOU JUST HIT THAT
— TBT (@thetournament) July 30, 2023
GAME WINNER OFF ONE FOOT FROM DEEP!!!!!
GETDEEBOSTABEER#ScTop10 pic.twitter.com/DNU5E9RHVY
Carmen's Crew was without William Buford, the 2019 TBT MVP when the Ohio State alumni basketball team won the tournament, for the second straight game due to an undisclosed ailment. Had the team won, he could have suited up on Monday.
BREAKING: TBT 2019 MVP William Buford hopes to play for @CarmensCrew if they advance to the Quarterfinals on Monday pic.twitter.com/GPyJG2L8hq
— TBT (@thetournament) July 29, 2023
