RICHMOND, Va. – Best Virginia blew the lid off of their debut game at the Siegel Center Friday, commandeering the TBT tournament matchup against Old Dominion’s Seven City Royalty for a 79-63 win.
Led by Jaysean Paige and Kevin Jones with 17 points a piece, the West Virginia crew never surrendered the lead, leading Royalty 39-27 entering the break and never allowing the deficit to close below six points.
The team’s biggest lead came in the final minutes when they led by 16 points.
Aside from his 17 points, Paige had five rebounds, four assists and two steals. Additionally, Jones grabbed seven boards and one steal.
The duo was backed up by Devin Williams with 10 points, three assists and steals, and team-highs with 10 boards and two blocks. Juwan Staten and Da’Sean Butler had eight points, while Staten contributed a team-high eight assists.
John Flowers came off the bench for 16 points, three rebounds and one block, leading Best Virginia’s bench in outscoring Royalty’s 36-18. Randy Haynes paced Royalty with 16 points, seven rebounds, two assists and one steal.
JJ Douglas and Keenan Palmore each had 10 points, while combining for seven rebounds and two assists. Palmore had a single steal.
Best Virginia shot 47.5 percent from the floor compared to Royalty’s 41.4 percent. The West Virginia crew also had the edge in shots from behind the arc with 33.3 percent compared to 31.6 percent.
Best Virginia is set to play the top seed Overseas Elite Saturday at 5 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN 3.
Across the tournament
Richmond Regional
- No. 1 Overseas Elite blew out No. 8 Hilltop Dawgs (UMBC alumni) 104-76 to advance and face No. 4 Best Virginia.
- No. 3 Green Machine (George Mason) was upset by No. 6 The Web (Richmond) 94-93. The Web will play No. 7 Team DRC Saturday at 7 p.m. Team DRC upset Ram Nation (VCU) 73-64.
Syracuse Regional
- No. 3 Brother Love defeated No. 6 Playing for Jimmy V (V Foundation) 80-67. They advance to play Armored Athlete who smothered Draddy (Manhattan) 96-69. Game time is set for Saturday at 2 p.m.
- No. 1 Boeheim’s Army (Syracuse) barely escaped No. 8 We are D3 68-65. They advance to play No. 5 Gael Nation (Iona) who is coming off of a close 99-93 win over No. 4 Team Fancy Saturday at noon.
Greensboro Regional
- No. 1 Hines conquered the Greensboro bracket, advancing to the quarterfinals after defeating No. 2 Team CP3 73-68 in the Super 16. They will face the winner of the Syracuse Regional Aug. 2 in Chicago.
Lexington Regional
- No. 1 Loyalty Is Love escaped their bracket with an 88-71 win over No. 3 Fort Wayne Champs on July 21. They will face the Richmond Regional champions in Chicago Aug. 2.
Salt Lake City Regional
- No. 1 Eberlein Drive staved off the upset with an 86-84 victory over No. 5 L.A. Cheaters (Drew League). They advance into the Super 16 to face the winner of No. 3 Team Fredette and No. 2 Challenge ALS Saturday at 7 p.m. MST. The winner of the 2-3 game was not available at The Dominion Post print deadline.
Wichita Regional
- No. 1 Golden Eagles (Marquette) toppled No. 8 Fort Hood 89-72. Meanwhile, No. 4 Team Colorado (Colorado) edged Purple and Black (Kansas State) 96-93. The Golden Eagles and Colorado will face off at 1 p.m. CDT Saturday to determine who advances to the Super 16.
- No. 3 Self Made (Kansas) was upset by No. 6 Sideline Cancer 87-63. Sideline Cancer will look to upset No. 2 Aftershocks (Wichita State) after the Wichita State crew defeated No. 7 Iowa United 85-76. Game time is set for Saturday at 3 p.m CDT.
Columbus Regional
- No. 1 Carmen’s Crew (Ohio State) escaped the Columbus bracket with a big 85-71 win over Red Scare (Dayton). They will face the champion of the Salt Lake City Regional Aug. 1.
Memphis Regional
- No. 8 Jackson TN Underdawgs shocked the Memphis bracket with three-straight upsets over No. 1 Gael Force (St. Mary’s), No. 5 Southern Gentlemen and No. 6 Louisiana United. They are slated to face the Wichita Regional champion Aug. 1 in Chicago.