PITTSBURGH — There was a TBT-style Backyard Brawl on Monday night, but Best Virginia was not up to the challenge.
Pitt’s alumni team, Zoo Crew, outscored WVU’s alumni team in every quarter on its way to a 91-79 victory inside the Petersen Events Center.
Mike Young led the way for Zoo Crew with 23 points, including the Elam Ending jumper to seal the game. Nike Sibande contributed 21 for the Pitt alumni, as Zoo Crew shot 54% from the floor as a team.
Esa Ahmad paced Best Virginia with 15 points, including three triples, while three others scored in double figures.
Zoo Crew outscored Best Virginia in every quarter, including 23-16 in the fourth, on its way to a spot in the regional final against Happy Valley Hoopers (Penn St.) on Wednesday night.
“Things got tough during the game and we kind of got away from ourselves out there a little bit,” Best Virginia head coach Chase Harler said. “This was all a learning experience though, we aren’t running away from the loss but we will learn from this and if I’m fortunate enough to be the coach again I will make sure to be better next time around. I really appreciate these guys for taking time out of their offseasons to represent West Virginia and our school and program.”
The game got off to a hot start as both teams shot greater than 60% from the field in the opening quarter. Best Virginia held a lead for the majority of the frame until Ryan Luther nailed back-to-back threes to give Zoo Crew a two-point lead after one quarter.
A 7-0 run early in the second saw Best Virginia pull ahead 34-31, but Zoo Crew kept the hot hand throughout the remainder of the frame and saw itself ahead 49-44 with less than a minute until halftime. A lay-up by Marcus Keene brought Best Virginia within one possession at the break.
“Our game plan going in was to live with contested jumpshots, they just made a lot of them,” Harler said. “The first game was easier for us as far as getting what we wanted and all that, but today was harder to get comfortable. It’s an up and down tournament with the hot hand typically winning games. They got hot and unfortunately we didn’t.”
The opening 90 seconds of the second half saw baskets being traded as Best Virginia kept within a possession of Zoo Crew. But the Pitt alumni carried the hot hand into the third quarter from the first half and grew the lead to 58-51.
Best Virginia battled back to tie the game at 58 as Devin Williams capped off a 7-0 run with a free throw out of a timeout.
However, that’s as close at Best Virginia would come to taking a lead as Zoo Crew never trailed in the second half.
“We knew they were going to pick and pop a lot and our game plan was to switch that to prevent those shots,” Harler said. “When we did switch and they got the big man on a guard they made plays, and again, we wanted to live with contested jumpshots and unfortunately they just made them.”
Zoo Crew took a 68-63 lead into the final quarter and opened the fourth with a quick six points that swelled the lead to nine.
Best Virginia would get as close as four points in the fourth at 74-70, but it was too little too late for the WVU alumni as the Zoo Crew entered the Elam Ending with an eight-point advantage 83-75.
The regional hosts outscored Best Virginia 8-4 in the Elam Ending with Mike Young’s jumper from the corner ending the contest.
Despite the loss, Harler was thankful for the experience and says he hopes to continue to be involved with Best Virginia and the TBT basketball tournament for as long as possible.
“It’s great for the state, for the fans, for the program and the alumni,” Harler said. “Leading up to the event we do some events with the community and have our exhibition and golf scramble. The goal is always to come in and win the million dollars, but being able come back and feel that pride of being a Mountaineer and being able to represent the program and state is special. Everyone fit well with this team and I’m thankful these guys gave their time this summer.”
Box score
Zoo Crew 91, Best Virginia 79
BV 25 21 17 16 – 79
ZC 27 22 19 23 – 91
Best Virginia – Keene 4 2-4 11 Harris 5 2-2 13 Philip 5 2-3 13 Ahmad 5 2-2 15 Williams 2 2-4 6 Meyers 1 2-3 4 Konate 4 0-0 8 Sherman 3 1-1 9
Zoo Crew – Young 9 5-7 23 Sibande 6 6-8 21 Cummings 5 3-4 17 Sleva 3 2-2 9 Artis 3 0-0 7 Luther 2 2-2 8 Patterson 2 0-0 5 Elliot 0 1-1 1
3pt goals – Best Virginia 8 (Ahmad 3 Sherman 2 Keene 1 Harris 1 Philip 1); Zoo Crew 12 (Cummings 4 Sibande 3 Luther 2 Artis 1 Sleva 1 Patterson 1)
