Kansas Alumni JHX Hoops Eliminated from TBT in Round of 16 Loss to Heartfire

The Kansas basketball alumni team JHX Hoops was eliminated from the 2025 The Basketball Tournament (TBT) after a close 71-68 loss to the defending champion Heartfire in the Round of 16. Despite a slow start and early turnovers, JHX rallied behind David McCormack's strong second-quarter performance and a third-quarter surge led by Zeke Mayo and others, taking a lead into the fourth quarter. However, key late-game turnovers, including a crucial one by McCormack in the Elam Ending, allowed Heartfire to secure the win with a game-winning jumper by Eric Washington. Coach Sherron Collins expressed frustration over missed opportunities and emphasized the importance of small details such as rebounds and defensive efforts. Mayo highlighted the physical nature of the game and valued the experience of playing under Collins. The loss prevented a potential in-state rivalry matchup against Wichita State in the tournament's Elite Eight, a game Collins believed would have been great for the state.