Team Arkansas Wins First Round Game of TBT

Razorback basketball is still a ways off, but Arkansas still has a team to rep this summer, as Team Arkansas won their first match of the TBT over the Fort Worth Funk (TCU Alumni) in a thriller, 74-70.

Former Hogs Dusty Hannahs and Jalen Barford led the way for Team Arkansas, scoring a combined 37 points. Barford was the star of the show, contributing a double-double with 23 points and 12 rebounds.

Team Arkansas raced out to a double-digit lead, but the Fort Worth Funk would not go quietly, and they brought the game within one possession for most of the second half. By the fourth quarter, the Funk actually jumped out to a six-point lead, but Team Arkansas didn’t let it get farther past that. By the time the target score was revealed, they had a solid lead of eight.

The TBT tournament employs a different game ending, in which the teams have a “target score” set with four minutes in the game. The team with the lead has an eight added to their number, and that number is what both teams need to reach to win. In this game, Team Arkansas had 66 points with four minutes remaining, which put the “target score” at 74.

The teams traded buckets, and then the Funk went on a quick 6-0 run to bring the game to within one possession. From there, it was neck and neck until Middle Tennessee State alum, and Arkansas native CJ Jones hit a corner three to win the game for Team Arkansas.

Team Arkansas not only brings on former Razorbacks, but anyone with a relationship to the state of Arkansas. Other players on the team include Kavion Pippen (his name somewhat speaks for itself), Hunter Mickelson, who played for Arkansas before transferring to Kansas, and Arlando Cook, who played for Arkansas from 2016-2018.

Team Arkansas will play next on Sunday, July 18 at 3PM against the winner of We Are D3 and Challenge ALS. That game will air on ESPN3.

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