KU's Mass Street TBT squad knocks off Missouri in Rd. 2, falls in Rd. 3

Eleven years after knocking off Missouri in one of the best games in the history of Allen Fieldhouse, former Kansas greats Tyshawn Taylor and Thomas Robinson did it again in Round 2 of the TBT in Wichita on Saturday.

One day later, the Mass Street team was eliminated in Round 3 by Team Heartfire, 73-60, ending their run in this year's $1 million, winner-take-all event.

The former Jayhawks led by six after one quarter but trailed by eight at halftime of Sunday's loss. They made it interesting a couple of times in the third quarter but never drew closer than five and trailed by nine heading into the fourth quarter.

On Saturday, Robinson scored the game’s final two points at the free throw line — and 15 total — to give Mass Street a 69-65 victory over the Show Me Squad made up of Missouri alums.

The former No. 5 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, was the hero in Round 1, scoring the game winner in the famed Elam Ending format on an offensive rebound to complete Mass Street’s comeback.

Unlike their win in Round 1 over We Are D3, the former Jayhawks led most of the way in this one, leading by nine (37-28) at halftime and maintaining control for much of the game.

Taylor, who did not play in Round 1 and missed Sunday's game because of injury, was in the lineup for Mass Street on Saturday and scored six points. Robinson was joined in double figures by Keith Langford (13), Mario Little (12) and Legerald Vick (11). Jamari Traylor also added 9 points in the win.

Taylor’s presence helped in ways beyond scoring, as Mass Street followed up its 22-turnover game in the opener by turning it over just five times on Saturday.

Several members of the current KU team made the trip south to cheer on the old heads, with Kevin McCullar Jr., Hunter Dickinson, KJ Adams, Nick Timberlake and more sitting behind the Mass Street bench to watch the win.
Saturday’s victory moved Mass Street into the third round, where they will face Team Heartfire in the regional title game at 2 p.m. at Koch Arena.

The game will be shown on ESPN2.