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Manhattan<\/p>\n
Michael Beasley no longer has the bragging rights he once did when it comes to the Sunflower Showdown basketball rivalry.<\/p>\n
The former star Kansas State forward was quick to remind anyone who would listen that he never lost a game against Kansas inside Bramlage Coliseum when he played for the Wildcats. Then Purple Reign, a team of K-State basketball alums, thumped JHX Hoops in Game 1 of a best-of-three series at the Octagon of Doom earlier this week.<\/p>\n
That got him gloating even more about his track record against the Jayhawks.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m 2-0,\u201d he said after the victory in Game 1. \u201cI\u2019ve never lost to them on this floor.\u201d<\/p>\n
But his mood changed after JHX Hoops rallied to defeat Purple Reign 62-55 to win the series on Friday in Manhattan. Beasley was in no mood to talk after his team squandered an early 16-4 lead and watched in agony as the KU alums celebrated in front of 2,452 fans at Bramlage Coliseum.<\/p>\n
His record against KU in Manhattan is now 2-1. For that reason, JHX Hoops will advance to play the winner of Aftershocks and The Enchantment in the next round of The Basketball Tournament. And Purple Reign will stay home with no chance of winning the event\u2019s prize of $2 million.<\/p>\n
Purple Reign coaches and players chose not to speak with media after they were eliminated from the tournament.<\/p>\n
If they did, they would probably have blamed themselves for failing to advance.<\/p>\n
Purple Reign led all three games against JHX Hoops by double digits, but the K-State alums failed to close out the final two.<\/p>\n
Beasley led his team with 17 points on Friday, but he did not play well. He only connected on 6 of 14 shots and failed to send out a single assist. Beasley appeared visibly frustrated in the second half and spent an excessive amount of time arguing with officials.<\/p>\n
That cost his team, which had a chance to win late. Purple Reign entered the Elam Ending with a 53-49 advantage but lost the decisive portion of the game 12-2.<\/p>\n
Zeke Mayo scored a game-high 25 points for JHX Hoops.<\/p>\n
Austin Trice gave Purple Reign 12 points and Brandon Childress added 11.<\/p>\n
It seemed like the K-State alums might pull away midway through the second half when Xavier Sneed pulled off a series of athletic plays, including a put-back dunk at the end of the third quarter, to give Purple Reign some breathing room.<\/p>\n
But it wasn\u2019t enough.<\/p>\n
JHX Hoops came from behind to win Game 2 and Game 3. The KU alumni team dominated the Elam Ending when it counted.<\/p>\n
Beasley is no longer undefeated against his KU rivals on his college home floor.<\/p>\n
This story was originally published July 24, 2026 at 9:25 PM.<\/p>\n
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