A Dominant Opening Round
Cole Swider, a former Syracuse forward, made a splash in his first appearance in The Basketball Tournament, pouring in 28 points for Boeheim's Army. His effort included 10-of-15 shooting and 4-of-8 from beyond the arc, while also grabbing eight rebounds.
The team rolled past Hall In 82-52, showcasing a comprehensive statistical edge that included a 24-4 advantage in points off turnovers and a 38-20 margin in paint scoring. Boeheim's Army shot 50.8% from the field and 28.6% from three-point range, while Hall In managed only 32.8% shooting and 20.7% from beyond the arc.
The victory not only secured a spot in the next round but also set up a July 23 rematch with Hall In, with a possible third game on July 24 if needed. The squad, which captured the TBT title in 2021 and earned a $1 million prize, is now looking to repeat the feat, and the early performance suggests they are on track.
Other contributors included Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu with 17 points and 11 rebounds, Elijah Hughes with 12, Eric Devendorf with seven, Ty Nichols with nine, and Buddy Boeheim and Jimmy Boeheim adding depth. Hall In’s Terry Roberts led the opposition with 19 points, but the team was hampered by the absence of Isaiah Whitehead, who sat out with an injury.
The win underscores the team’s depth and defensive prowess, as they led in total rebounds (38-35), assists (14-12), steals (9-7), second-chance points (14-12) and fast-break points (8-6). With the tournament’s winner-take-all format, Boeheim's Army appears poised to advance deep into the competition.