Indianapolis, IN – Just one day away from the regional final at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Four teams compete to stay in the running for the million-dollar prize and The Basketball Tournament title.
Before moving on to round 3, however, here is a look at what went down in both games during round 2 of TBT 2025:
No. 1 Carmen’s Crew (OSU alum) vs. No. 5 Fort Wayne Champs
Through the entirety of the game, both teams put up a fight. It was neck and neck… until it wasn’t. Carman’s Crew led for the majority of the game. It was evident that Fort Wayne Champs were still in the running, though. While Carmen’s Crew used their size and aggression as their primary weapons, the Fort Wayne Champs used it to their advantage. It was until the very end of the third quarter that they shot 100% from the stripe, 11-for-11. They finished the game with a 79.2 free throw percentage.
Even with this accuracy, it ultimately wasn’t enough to come out on top. Jamel Morris for Carmen’s Crew was the point leader with 20 points. Fort Wayne’s Jitaurious Gordon followed Morris in points, putting up 16. A key for the OSU alum was the second-chance points, which they recorded at 22 compared to Fort Wayne Champs’ 9 points. Carmen’s Crew also doubled Fort Wayne’s fast-break points (12-6). It is also noteworthy to point out that the Carmen’s Crew bench put up 41 points to Fort Wayne Champs’ 30.
With a layup from Desonta Bradford in an ELAM ending, the game concluded with a final of 73-69.
The defending champs will stay at Hinkle Fieldhouse for round 3. They take on the underdog Fail Harder at 8 p.m. on July 22.
No. 3 All Good Dawgs (Butler alum) vs. No. 7 Fail Harder
Speaking of the underdog, team Fail Harder has surpassed viewers’ expectations. First, they defeated No. 2 Assembly Ball 89-76 in the first round. This victory was already a shock to most, considering the talented IU alum on their roster this year. They then had to take on the home team, All Good Dawgs.
It was about halfway through the 2nd quarter that Fail Harder really picked up the pace. Even though the Butler alum had size over them, the underdogs used their speed and quick decision-making to tighten the margin of victory. They quickly turned the competition into a running game. By halftime, All Good Dawgs trailed 40-33.
Even the crowd full of Butler fans wasn’t enough to secure the win for the Dawgs. Once the Elam ending began, Fail Harder led 72-61, making the target 80 points. Fans from both sides were on the edge of their seats as the score margin reached as low as one point. Ultimately, All Good Dawgs had two failed attempts behind the arc that would have given them the victory. The game ended on a tip-in by Jordan Walker. After this, the team as well as the fans and media surrounding the court flooded underneath the basket in celebration. It seemed in that moment that Fail Harder might just be the Cinderella team of TBT 2025.
“I like being the underdog. It keeps you motivated, it keeps you grounded, it keeps you humble. And at the end, everybody will try to jump on the bandwagon,” said Darius Adams, leading scorer (24 points) in the press conference after the game.
Up Next
No. 1 Carmen’s Crew vs. No. 7 Fail Harder at 8 p.m. on YouTube.