Tre Mitchell’s 16-foot jumper on Sunday finally put Herd That out of its misery and Best Virginia back into a TBT regional final for the first time since 2022.
Best Virginia — the No. 3 seed in the West Virginia Regional — will face top-seeded Elite Nation at 7 p.m. Tuesday for the right to advance to the TBT national quarterfinals.
Elite Nation held off fourth-seeded Court Street Kings on Sunday, 88-85.
TBT is a $1 million winner-take-all tournament.
Mitchell’s shot gave Best Virginia an 82-75 victory against the Marshall alumni team inside the Charleston Coliseum, but not until Herd That made one final charge during the Elam Ending.
Best Virginia led 73-58 when a foul set up the Elam Ending with a target score of 81.
Herd That scored the first seven points until Kedrian Johnson hit a 3-pointer in the corner for Best Virginia for a 76-65 lead.
Free throws paved a lot of the way for Best Virginia. J.D.Weatherspoon went 1 for 2 at the line for a 77-66 lead, and then James Reese connected on a technical-foul free throw.
Mitchell hit two more at the line to give Best Virginia an 80-70 lead.
Herd That went on a 5-0 run before Jarrod West found Mitchell standing in between Herd That’s zone defense.
West whipped a pass to Mitchell, who turned, shot and nailed the game winner. Best Virginia had lost in the TBT second round in each of the last two seasons. Herd That knocked it out in 2023, while Pitt’s alumni team, Zoo Crew, beat it last season in Pittsburgh.
Mitchell, who starred at WVU during the 2022-23 season, finished with 23 points on 9 of 13 shooting.
Former WVU point guard Kedrian Johnson added 18 points.
James Reese, a former standout at North Texas and South Carolina, added 20 points for Best Virginia.
Herd That was led by Jacorey Williams, who finished with 24 points and 11 rebounds.
