By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Basketball Federation’s 2019 Summer of Thunder men’s play concluded on Sunday at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium with the Mega Bemax holding off Texas Tech Red Raiders 76-73.

Meanwhile, over at the makeshift gymnasium in the ballroom at the Baha Mar resort, the Memphis State Tigers remained undefeated as they routed Raw Talent Elite 107-77.

The national champions Commonwealth Bank Giants, coached by Perry Thompson Jr, had the most success of any of the local teams, losing 98-96 to Temple University before winning 79-65 over McNeese State.

They then lost to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga 95-72 and bounced back to defeat the University of Delaware 91-86, only to close out play with three consecutive losses to Murray State University (110-78), Georgetown University (103-77) and Memphis State (114-83).

With the men’s division now complete, the BBF will prepare to stage one ladies’ game that will be played on Monday, August 26 when the Bahamas All-Star women play host to the visiting York University.

Mega Bemax 76,

Red Raiders 73

The men’s professional basketball team based out of Belgrade, Serbia, played under the radar with some of the top collegiate teams getting the spotlight.

But in their quiet way, Mega Bemax completed their trip here with a 1-1 record with four players in double figures, led by guard Uros Trifunovic with 20 points, three rebounds and three assists in their only victory.

Swingman Andrija Marjanovic came off the bench with 14 points, centre Marko Simonovic had 12 points with nine rebounds and two assists and power forward Nikola Miskovic also came off the bench with 12 points.

It was a revenge for Mega Bemax, who lost 94-92 to Texas Tech on Thursday.

In a losing effort for the Red Raiders on Sunday, guard Terrence Shannon came off the bench with 20 points, three rebounds, three steals and two assists. Guard Kyler Edwards was the only other player in double figures with 16 points, six rebounds and two steals.

Mega Bemax took a 40-37 lead at the half, but Texas Tech rallied back to even the score at 36-36 in the second half to make it an exciting contest right to the end.

Tigers 107,

Elites 77

After coming off their closest game played in their win over the Bahamas men’s national team on Saturday, Memphis State returned early Sunday morning for their third blowout in their series of games.

The Tigers, coached by Penny Hardaway and Mike Miller, had a balanced scoring attack before their close to 400 cheering fans with seven players scoring in double figures.

Forward DJ Jefferies had 17 points with 12 rebounds and three assists, guard Boogie Ellis also had 17 points with five steals and forward Lance Thomas had 13 points, five rebounds and four block shots.

Guard Tyler Harris ignited the bench with 13 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals, guard Jayden Hardaway had 11 points, guard Alex Lomax added 10 points with eight assists, five rebounds and four steals and starter Damon Baugh finished with 10 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and three steals.

In a losing effort for Raw Talent, Adam Johnson pumped in a game-high 19 points with five rebounds, four steals and as many blocked shots. Antonio Hanna added 19 points and six rebounds and both Deangelo Mackey (five assists and four rebounds) and Kenny Isnord (five rebounds) helped out with nine points each.

Raw Talent led by one, 31-30 at the end of the first quarter, but they watched as Memphis State turned it up another notch to out-score them 32-10 in the second quarter to take a 62-41 advantage at the half.

In the second half, Raw Talent went on a 27-24 run in the third, but the Red Raiders were a little too much to handle in the fourth period as they surged on a 21-9 spurt to put the game out of reach.