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UC Alumni Playing As Nasty 'Nati Wins TBT Regional Championship At Xavier's Cintas Center
It wasn't the NCAA tournament or March Madness, but the University of Cincinnati-based Nasty 'Nati team came into Monday night's Xavier regional championship in The Basketball Tournament (TBT) with a rare, two-game win streak at Cintas Center.
Make it three.
With Xavier's Zip'Em Up team eliminated by the alumni Bearcats, it was clearly a pro-UC crowd on hand, far different than Saturday night. The 'Nati boys didn't let them down going into the Elam Ending up 20, 66-46. That put the target score at 74. When Jacob Evans sank a 3-pointer to end his second straight game the final was 76-51 and UC's "Down the Drive" cheer took over their rival's gym.
The Nasty 'Nati bench with coaches Cane Broome, Kevin Johnson and Cashmere Wright celebrate winning the Xavier regional in TBT Monday night.
The 25-point triumph over last year's TBT runner-up puts Nasty 'Nati three wins away from the $1 million prize. They held the top seed to 30% shooting and 51 points in a game with a shot clock.
"That's what we're known for," Jarron Cumberland said of the defense. "Just knowing us with our resumé, you see our jerseys, it's Nasty 'Nati. Everyone's got that mindset. That's how we win."
Said Evans of his latest game-winner, "I haven't seen a shot I don't like!"
Evans finished with five treys and 23 points, while Cumberland led UC's alumni again with 26 points and eight rebounds. Nasty 'Nati was nasty on the boards with a 45-33 advantage topped by Mamoudou Diarra's 11. Marquez Letcher-Ellis, the lone player not a Bearcat, blocked seven shots. Letcher-Ellis played in college at Rice
"We've got two great guys that can score," Letcher-Ellis said. "My job is really easy honestly. I bring energy. To be able to do that with a high-level group of guys going against another high-level group of guys that's pretty much the determining factor in this tournament. Every team is equally skilled. Who's going to do a little more work than the other team? We've done it three games in a row now. As long as we do that, we're one of the best teams here"
Letcher-Ellis was born in Cincinnati and his mother graduated from UC. He said he always loved the program and willingly participated in UC's cheer on the X at center court.
Pick your poisonAgain, Cumberland and Evans were the best players on the floor. Evans could have stayed another year at UC to play with him but was a first-round NBA draft pick as a junior.
For the second straight game Jacob Evans nailed the game-ending shot for Nasty 'Nati as they won the Xavier regional to advance to Dayton next week. Next to Evans is Troy Caupain.
"He's one of my favorite players I've ever played with, NBA, overseas, college," Evans said. "He's not going to chill. Playing off his energy feeds my energy and feeds our team. I'm looking forward to the next few games we've got."
Cumberland is also looking ahead to put more videotape up for would-be suitors. He most recently played in the Mexican League. Ditto for Letcher-Ellis who played in Chile.
"I'm definitely using it!" Cumberland said with a broad grin.
Added Letcher-Ellis of his efforts, "Clip it up!"
Cronin's killersAll on the roster with the exception of Letcher-Ellis, played for Mick Cronin. The veteran Program for Autism team pleaded with the referees several times about the trademark physical play.
The current UCLA coach watched at home on ESPN+.
"They had good defense and rebounding," Cronin said. "They know how to win, it's obvious. They all won big in college and are smart players that have a great understanding of who they are. They get tired, but they're smart. They rest on offense. It was fun to watch."
Jarron Cumberland fires another arrow into the crowd after a 3-pointer. Cumberland led all scorers with 26 points in the Nasty 'Nati's regional win vs. The Program for Autism Monday night.
We meet againNasty 'Nati coach Cashmere Wright played against J'Covan Brown of Program for Autism when Brown was with the Texas Longhorns. UC prevailed in the NCAA tournament in Nashville, 65-59. Brown led his team Monday night with 13 points at age 38.
How Nasty 'Nati advanced to the title gameThe Bearcat alumni got a proverbial load off their chest over the weekend by a) getting a Cintas Center win Friday vs. The Money Team, and b) defeating the Xavier-based Zip'Em Up team Saturday night. That somewhat eased the pain of UC's players and supporters who have seen the Bearcats drop the last four Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootouts. As for winning one at Cintas Center, you have to go back to 2001 when a Bob Huggins-coached team beat the Musketeers 75-55 behind 22 points by Steve Logan.
The Program For Autism was the No 1 seed by TBT in the Xavier regional and was given 10-1 odds to win the 64-team tourney by the gambling site sportsbetting.Ag. The team name comes from players J'Covan Brown, Delroy James and Isaiah Swann being the fathers of children with autism. Swann was the eldest on the court playing Monday at age 38.
Sportsbetting.Ag listed Zip'Em Up a 20-1 shot to win TBT with Nasty 'Nati given barely a puncher's chance at 250-1.
Who's got next?UC's alumni team has a week until they square off with the Dayton regional champion Monday, July 31 at 7 p.M. At UD Arena. That regional's games start Wednesday and run through Saturday with the winner facing Nasty 'Nati after that.
During the week, there have been hints of a player or players being added to the Nasty 'Nati roster. Former Bearcat Keith Williams is already on the roster but didn't play in the games at Xavier. Tre Scott was also on the roster but opted not to play after signing an NBA two-way contract.
"Next week we might have a new piece or two so just stay tuned," GM Johnson said.
An NBA guest took in the gameFormer Moeller standout Miles McBride who starred at West Virginia for ex-Bearcat coach Bob Huggins and now is with the New York Knicks sat courtside. McBride played for Coach Carl Kremer's Moeller Crusaders several times at Xavier's Cintas Center.
McBride will be doing a camp at Moeller July 26-27, then more in West Virginia. Former Moeller teammate Maxwell Land, now at South Alabama sat next to McBride. Among UC notables, new freshman Rayvon Griffith was all smiles on the hardwood after watching the team in black prevail as AC/DC's "Back in Black" blared over the Cintas Center sound system.
NASTY 'NATI 25 11 19 21 76
PROGRAM FOR AUTISM 15 13 14 9 51
NN– Evans 8 2 23 Caupain 2 2 7 DeBerry 4 0 8 Diarra 4 0 8 Cumberland 8 7 26 Letcher-Ellis 1 2 4
PA– Olujobi 3 0 6 James 1 2 4 Armand 1 0 3 Brown 5 0 13 Monroe 3 2 9 English 2 3 0 Murphy 2 0 4 Moody 1 0 3
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: TBT scores: Cincinnati alumni team Nasty 'Nati wins regional title
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