Former Syracuse basketball standout goes off, Boeheim's Army cruises in its TBT opener

Hello there, Cole Swider. Welcome to the TBT.

The former Syracuse basketball forward erupted for a game-high 28 points, helping propel Boeheim's Army to an easy win over a Seton Hall alumni squad, Hall In, on Tuesday night in South Orange, N.J., in an opening-round game of the $2 million, winner-take-all The Basketball Tournament ("TBT").

Boeheim's Army leads the best-of-three series, 1-0, after the collection of former Orange stars and others dismantled Hall In, 82-52. Swider, making his TBT debut, went 10-of-15 from the field and 4-of-8 from beyond the arc. He also had eight rebounds.

"It was awesome to get out there and play with these guys," Swider said in an interview after the win. He noted that two of his good friends, shooting guard Buddy Boeheim and forward Jimmy Boeheim, are also playing for Boeheim's Army in the 2026 TBT.

Boeheim's Army and Hall In will get back at it on Thursday, July 23, in Syracuse, N.Y. If necessary, a third and final game will also take place in Syracuse on Friday, July 24.

Despite missing three players on its roster - power forward Jacorey Williams, wing Wes Johnson and power forward Chris McCullough - Boeheim's Army outscored Hall In by at least five points in each of the contest's four quarters. Hall In was without its best player, guard Isaiah Whitehead, who was dealing with an injury.

Boeheim's Army crushed Hall In on Tuesday evening in the TBT opener.

Besides Swider, center Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu, who played collegiately at UT Arlington and Memphis, was terrific. He had 17 points and 11 boards while going 8-of-9 from the field. Former 'Cuse wing Elijah Hughes had 12 points and another former SU standout, guard Eric Devendorf, chipped in seven points.

Shooting guard Ty Nichols, who played in college at Keene State, added nine points for Boeheim's Army. Hall In point guard Terry Roberts paced that squad with 19 points, including 5-of-12 from 3-point land.

Boeheim's Army, which won the TBT in 2021 when the grand prize was $1 million, beat Hall In by a wide margin for a couple of reasons. One was points off turnovers, where Boeheim's Army led 24-4. The Syracuse alumni team also held a big 38-20 edge in paint points.

Shooting-wise, Boeheim's Army hit on 50.8 percent from the field, 28.6 percent from downtown and 66.7 percent from the free-throw line. Conversely, Hall In made 32.8 percent from the field, 20.7 percent from deep and 66.7 percent from the charity stripe.

In other statistical categories, Boeheim's Army led 16-10 in turnovers forced, 38-35 in total rebounds, 14-12 in assists, 9-7 in steals, 14-12 in second-chance points and 8-6 in fast-break points. Hall In led 5-2 in blocks and 28-16 in bench points.

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This article was originally published on insidetheloudhouse.com as Former Syracuse basketball standout goes off, Boeheim's Army cruises in its TBT opener.