HBCU All-Star Basketball Game: Team “Dick Barnett” defeats Team “Willis Reed 113

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The 2nd Annual HBCU All-Star Game launched from Space City (Houston) with hopes of sending the careers of young talented college players into the trajectory of the NBA. It was a game that featured lots of fast breaks, blocked shots, and high-flying slam dunks.

“Team Dick Barnett honored Dr. Dick Barnett who became an HBCU and NBA legend from Tennessee A&I, later Tennessee State. He won two NBA championships with the New York Knicks. The team featured players from the MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference), SIAC (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference), and Independent schools representing Tennessee State, Hampton, and North Carolina A&T State Universities.

Team “Willis Reed” honored Willis Reed who was Dr. Dick Barnett’s teammate on the NBA championship-winning NY Knick teams. Team Willis Reed paid tribute to the HBCU and NBA legend who recently passed on Tues, March 21, 2023. This team featured payers from the SWAC (Southwestern Athletic Conference) and the CIAA (Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference).

Team Willis Reed jumped to a quick 4-0 lead before Team Barnett answered with a quick 3-pointer to answer the challenge. Both teams played stingy defense up until the mid-way point of the 1st half. That’s when team Barnett opened up with a barrage of 3-pointers which gave them a 14-point lead of 44-30 and they never took their foot off the gas pedal. Team Barnett shot 53.2% (25-47), 40.9% (9-22) from three-point land, and 42.9% (3-7) from the free-throw line. Team Reed shot 44.4% (20-45), 18.8% (3-16) on three-pointers, and 100% (4-4) from the free-throw line. Team Dick Barnett led at the half 62-47.

Early in the second half, Team Barnett increased their lead to 20 points (75-55) led by game MVP Nathaniel Pollard Jr. A 6’5” small forward from Univ. of Maryland Eastern Shore who scored 10 points and grabbed 14 rebounds (3 offensive and 11 defensive) along with Kerry Richardson, a 6’6” small forward from Morehouse College who scored 14 points which included two long-range three-pointers. They pushed the pace once again opening up a 30-point lead at the 10:57 mark.

Team Reed’s offense was led by Joirdon Karl Nicholas a 6’9” power forward from Texas Southern Univ. He poured in 26 points to lead all scorers (11-16) along with fellow TSU teammate John Walker III a 6’9” forward and center who tossed in 17 points (7-9). Team Barnett closed the gap to 108-98 with 1:44 left to play but was unable to contain Team Barnett defensively in the closing minutes. Team Dick Barnet was victorious 113-99 in the 2nd Annual HBCU All-Star Game which was filled with lots of pageantries with attendees such as Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Jesse Jackson, Benjamin Crump, and Coach Penny Hardaway of Memphis Tigers.

For the second half of the game, Team Dick Barnett shot 61.3% (19-31), 61.5% (8-13) from three, and 50% from the charity stripe (5-10). Overall for the game, they shot 56.4% (44-78) from the field, 48.6% from three (17-35), and 47.1% (8-17) from the free-throw line.