The Kansas State alumni team entered this year’s edition of The Basketball Tournament with high expectations and a new name, but Purple Reign was unable to advance beyond the first round of the competition.
Team Colorado defeated Purple Reign 71-67 in an entertaining back-and-forth game on Saturday inside Koch Arena.
Andre Roberson won it for Team Colorado when he made a layup on the final play of the afternoon to lift his squad above the Elam Ending target score of 70.
It was a frustrating way for Purple Reign to exit the tournament. The former Wildcats squandered several opportunities to win before Team Colorado pulled ahead in the final moments.
“I feel like we were prepared, but we went out the way we did,” Purple Reign coach Jordan Henriquez said. “We haven’t lost in the first round in quite a few years. We had a lot of roster depth, too. We will definitely be back next year.”
Jacob Pullen led K-State with 17 points , and he looked particularly strong in the first quarter when he drained a string of deep 3-pointers to give Purple Reign an early lead. But he was unable to sustain his hot start and finished the game with only four field goals on 12 attempts.
Kamau Stokes did the majority of the scoring from Purple Reign the rest of the way, as he finished with four 3-pointers and 14 points. Cartier Diarra and former Oklahoma State forward Yor Anei both scored seven points for Purple Reign.
Former K-State players Dajuan Gordon and Justin Edwards both scored five.
D’Shawn Schwartz led Team Colorado with 21.
Despite the loss, Pullen said it was fun to play in front of K-State fans.
“It’s always great,” Pullen said. “That is the main reason that we do this. We also get to see guys we haven’t seen in a long time. It’s a chance for us to re-connect and strengthen our brotherhood and just have some fun. Unfortunately it didn’t go the way we wanted but I have enjoyed seeing everyone.
“Hopefully next year we can get Barry (Brown) and everyone else to come in make (the team even better). That is the hope and that is the goal. I appreciate them all coming out this year, especially the fans.”
The game was up for grabs in the final moments when Stokes hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 64. But Team Colorado scored the next five points to take control. Purple Reign battled back and gave itself an opportunity to win with a stop and then a 3-pointer, but Team Colorado was able to score a walk-off basket.
Team Colorado will face the AfterShocks, the Wichita State alumni team , in the Round of 32.
Purple Reign and Henriquez will have to wait until next summer to get another shot at a deep run in this tournament.
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