Despite early exit in TBT, Assembly Ball cherishes week of reconnecting

The run ended early — with missed shots, defensive lapses and a long, quiet walk off the court.

Assembly Ball, Indiana basketball’s alumni squad in The Basketball Tournament (TBT), is heading home after a disappointing 89–76 first-round loss to Fail Harder on Saturday night at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

The loss stung. It ended any hopes of a deep run — or a shot at the winner-take-all $1 million prize. Assembly Ball led at halftime and looked poised for more, but a second-half collapse dashed those plans.

“Very disappointing,” Al Durham, who led Assembly Ball with 23 points, said postgame. “I’m disappointed for the fans — I came back one time and you want to deliver. You want to win these games, keep the fans coming out and seeing you play. But we didn’t deliver tonight. That’s just the reality of it.”

RELATED: Postgame Q&A: Al Durham, Race Thompson talk Assembly Ball’s loss in Round 1 of TBT

Assembly Ball, the No. 2 seed in the Indianapolis regional, looked strong early.

Durham scored 10 of his 23 points in the opening quarter, while QJ Peterson, a Virginia Military Institute alum, chipped in 20 points, eight rebounds and four assists. The Hoosier-heavy squad led by as many as 11 in the first half and took a 39–37 edge into the break.

But then came the third quarter — and with it, trouble.

Fail Harder’s Darius Adams, a University of Indianapolis product, exploded for 16 of his 21 points in the period. Assembly Ball’s defense faltered, and a five-point lead turned into a 14-point deficit during a back-breaking 24–5 run.

“I think our defense slipped a little bit,” forward Race Thompson, who added nine points, said. “Our defensive intensity was good in the first half. I think it slipped a little bit in the third quarter — that’s when they were able to make their run — and we weren’t able to fight back from that.”

Fail Harder shot a scorching 57.1% from the field and 52.2% from beyond the arc. Assembly Ball, meanwhile, finished at just 37.5% overall and 7-of-29 (24%) from deep.

“They were physical. They made shots — timely shots,” Durham said. “They kept their momentum going, and I feel as though we didn’t capitalize on some things, but they just made timely shots.”

Despite entering TBT with hopes of making noise, the group concocted of mostly former Indiana standouts never found its rhythm on Saturday.

Assembly Ball was also shorthanded. Yogi Ferrell dressed but didn’t play. James Blackmon Jr. sat in street clothes. Miller Kopp and Noah Vonleh, both listed on the roster, never made it to Indianapolis.

Still, the team felt it had enough talent to win — and for a moment, it looked like that belief might hold up.

But that’s life in TBT. There are no guarantees.

“Anybody can beat you,” Thompson said. “These dudes we’re playing against are pros, too. Those guys are good. You’ve got to go out there and play.”

Yet even as the disappointment lingered in the postgame haze, there was a shared sentiment among the players. The past week still meant something to them.

For Durham, returning to Indiana — and reuniting with familiar faces — was a joy that couldn’t be erased by a box score.

His favorite moment? Seeing former college roommate Race Thompson walk into Assembly Hall with a suitcase in hand.

“That was a special moment for me,” Durham said, smiling. “I haven’t seen Race in a long time. I’ve been a part of his journey since he came to college. It was just special to see him, see him healthy, see him doing well.”

Thompson, now nearly three years removed from his time in Bloomington, echoed those feelings.

“As soon as you walk in the gym, it lit up,” Thompson explained. “You’re seeing people you haven’t seen in years. We keep up, but seeing these guys in person and being able to come back and do something like this — just getting together and seeing the guys’ faces and spending time with them.”

IUBB RECRUITING: Indiana extends offer to 2027 guard Jymin Veney after Peach Jam breakout

On Saturday, Thompson donned the candy-striped pants again alongside a host of former Hoosiers — Durham, Juwan Morgan, Jordan Hulls and others who built their careers at Indiana. He said putting them back on was “fun,” though the outcome took some shine off the nostalgia.

“I like ripping them off more than putting them on,” he joked. “But it was fun. It sucks that we didn’t get it done.”

Assembly Ball’s brief TBT run ends with a sobering reminder. In this tournament, even a roster full of former Big Ten talent can be bounced in 40 minutes.

But what the team lacked in execution, it made up for in camaraderie.

“It’s special,” Thompson said. “This is a special place — Indiana and Indiana University. Being with my guys — my roommate for three years [Durham], Juwan, older guys like Yogi, Troy [Williams], James, [Christian Watford] — it’s a little brotherhood we have going on here.”

The final buzzer left a heavy silence over Assembly Ball. Disappointment hung thick in the air as players and fans alike grappled with the abrupt end to their TBT run.

The sting of a first-round exit was real — a tough pill for a group of former Hoosiers who had hoped to make a statement playing in the same state they called home during their time sporting the cream and crimson.

Yet, beneath the frustration and the missed opportunities, there was an undeniable warmth that colored the week.

For many, this wasn’t just about basketball — it was about reconnecting with old friends, reliving memories and reigniting a brotherhood forged years ago in Bloomington.

Though the scoreboard wasn’t what Assembly Ball had hoped for, the reunion and the camaraderie will linger long after the tournament ends — a reminder that sometimes, the journey is just as important as the destination.

“I enjoyed the week very much,” Durham said. “This was one of my first times in a long time being back [in Indiana]. Result aside, I’ve had a really good week.”

Not yet a member of TheHoosier? Take advantage of our launch with On3 and join our community! Just $1 for your FIRST MONTH and then 50% off the rest of your FIRST YEAR! Join here.