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J.R. Giddens dunks in the first half of Saturday’s TBT game for The Enchantment in Wichita, Kansas. (Cole Cooper/TBT)
UNM hoops has had its share of misery in that other basketball tournament that takes place each March.
Saturday night in The Basketball Tournament, though not directly affiliated with the NCAA or the University of New Mexico, a roster of past Lobo greats felt that familiar sting.
The Enchantment squandered a 23-point third-quarter lead, losing to the Stillwater Stars, 84-83, in the round of 64 of the $1 million, winner-take-all TBT regional in Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas.
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“We will be back next year,” said Enchantment general manager and assistant coach Brandon Mason, the former UNM assistant who was the driving force over the past year for creating this year’s first-ever Lobo alumni team for the event that has been growing in popular
He hit 3-pointers. Lots of them.
Mathis was one of two players on Thursday night to advance in the Wichita Regional’s 3-point contest that is part of the 64-team, $1 million winner-take-all The Basketball Tournament (TBT).
He competes Aug. 1 as part of the TBT final four on ESPN with seven other players for a chance to win $33,333.
And Mathis hoping he won’t be alone.
He and a roster of fellow former Lobos – The Enchantment – begin their journey toward that same Final Four and beyond in the single-elimination TBT on Saturday night against the Stillwater Stars – a team comprised primarily of Oklahoma State alumni.