The first game of the first day of Nike’s EYBL Scholastic Sunshine Classic pits a pair of newcomers to the league. Tennessee Collegiate Academy out of Memphis is in its first year and features 6’4 senior Christian Gibson, a UCF commit and Jaxon Hardaway, the son of Memphis Head Coach and former NBA star Penny Hardaway. Dream City Christian out of Arizona features 6’2 senior Ikenna Alozie, a Houston commit, and 6’7 junior Malachi Jordan.
TN Collegiate got on the board first with a putback bucket from D’Nharayane Vital, a 6’10 senior. Dream City first basket tied as Malachi Jordan put in a mid-range jumper. Mason Williams, a 6’3 senior of TN Collegiate scored the game’s next four points. Jordan knocked down a three to get Dream City to within one but that was offset by a three from TN Collegiate’s 6’2 junior Lincoln Vinson. Alozie made the score 9-7 with a drive with just under two minutes to play. That was the last Dream City would score in the quarter. Vinson dropped in a three and scored in transition for TN Collegiate to make the score 14-7 in favor of TN Collegiate after one period of play.
TN Collegiate built a ten-point lead after a three from 6’0 junior Chase Givens. Jordan hit a mid-range jumper to cut the margin for Dream City but Vinson hit another three and after Alozie scored on a drive, Williams of TN Collegiate hit a mid-range jumper to make the score 22-11 with just over five minutes to play. Dream City then ran off five points to cut the margin in half. A mid-range jumper from 6’5 senior Christian Gibson of TN Collegiate stopped the Dream City run, but only briefly. Jordan scored close in and 6’5 sophomore Mateen Cleaves, Jr., hit two free throws to get to within 24-20. Givens scored on a drive for TN Collegiate but after a pair of threes from Alozie, the score was knotted up at 26-26 with just over two minutes left in the half. A steal and slam by Jordan of Dream City gave them a brief lead, but a mid-range bucket from Gibson of TN Collegiate made the half-time score 28-28.
The teams traded buckets and leads in the early portion of the third quarter and with just over five minutes to play, the score was tied at 34-34. At that point, Dream City ripped off an 11-0 run, nine of those coming from 5’10 junior Kendyn Grant. With 1:23 left in the period, Dream City looked in control up 45-34. TN Collegiate responded with a 6-0 run, four of those from Williams, to get to within 45-40. Each team hit a three pointer on their respective final possession of the period and with one quarter remaining, Dream City held a 48-43 lead.
TN Collegiate drew within two after 6’8 senior Keeper Jackson drained a three to open the fourth. Jordan responded with a three of his own for Dream City. A minute later, a dunk inside by Dream City’s 6’10 junior Chris Brown, elevated the team’s lead to seven at 55-48. Two quick buckets by TN Collegiate got them to within three at 58-55 but a three-point play by Jordan of Dream City pushed the score to 58-52. A putback by Gibson of TN Collegiate got them back to within four. On the next play for Dream City, Alozie turned the ball over and also his ankle. With 2:52 left in the game and his team up 58-54, he exited the game. TN Collegiate took advantage and Gibson hit a three to get to within 58-57 with 2:12 remaining. Alozie made it back to the court and its is a good thing he did. He scored on a drive on Dream City’s next possession, then after TN Collegiate hit one of two free throws, he drove inside and fed Brown. He was fouled and hit two free throws with thirty-four seconds left to make it a two-possession game, 62-58. Williams hit two free throws for TN Collegiate and then Dream City turned the ball over with eighteen seconds, giving TN Collegiate life. However, they were unable to take advantage, as Alozie forced a loose ball with three seconds left. Neither team gained possession by the time the horn sounded and Dream City held on for a tight 62-60 win.
Jordan led Dream City with 22 points while Alozie added 14 points.
Williams led TN Collegiate with 19 points and Gibson added 13 points.