Kansas’ alumni team has no time to dwell on a rough opener in the 2026 TBT.
JXH Hoops was overwhelmed from the start Tuesday night at Bramlage Coliseum, where Kansas State’s Purple Reign rolled to an 80-61 win behind Michael Beasley’s all-around takeover. The loss puts KU on the brink in the best-of-three opening-round series, with game two set for 7 p.m. Wednesday at Lee Arena on Washburn’s campus.
A K-State win would end the Jayhawks’ run. A KU win would send the matchup back to Bramlage for a deciding game Friday night.
“The way we played tonight is not the way we practice. It isn’t the way we play. So we’ll get a better effort (Wednesdsay),” JXH Hoops head coach Sherron Collins said after the defeat.
“It’s going to hurt tonight. But the good thing is we’ve got another game tomorrow,” he added.
Kansas never found its footing after falling behind 10-1 early in front of 3,192 fans. Beasley was at the center of everything, scoring 20 points and adding six assists, three blocks and two steals while repeatedly setting up teammates for dunks.
He also added some edge to the night, talking trash to KU’s bench throughout the game and drawing a technical foul after putting a shoulder into JHX’s Tra-Deon Hollins. At one point, he even planted a kiss on KU forward Carlton Bragg’s cheek.
Beasley’s first-half burst helped K-State take control quickly. He had 13 points before halftime, including two 3-pointers, as Purple Reign went to the break up 39-25.
Collins said the Jayhawks’ response has already started.
“I think any athlete that’s a competitor, you compete to win, and every win and every loss matters. But to lose the right way is always giving your all or losing by one point.
The way we lost is unacceptable the way we play, and they know that, and they feel that, and the talks are already about tomorrow,” Collins said. “I like where our attitude is at and how we’re going to respond.”
He also pointed to the pressure that comes with wearing Kansas across the chest.
“At Kansas, it’s always to win every game, and if you don’t win the game, it’s the end of the world. So I think we’ve all been under that pressure and that umbrella.
So we’ll respond,” Collins said. “We’ll get some guys some treatment, but I’m for sure … a guy like Frank (Mason), Frank’s probably going to punch a wall or something later on.
That’s how much of a competitor he is, and you can feel it. I can feel how he feels, so we’ll get fight tomorrow,” Collins stated.
KU had a couple of injury concerns to sort through after the loss. Marcus Garrett bumped knees with a K-State player in the first half and played only nine minutes, though Collins said he should be available Wednesday. Jamari Traylor, who finished with four points and three rebounds, was hurt late in the game and will be evaluated by medical staff, leaving his status uncertain for game two.
The numbers told the rest of the story for KU. Frank Mason scored 10 points on 3-of-11 shooting and added six rebounds, four assists and seven of Kansas’ 19 turnovers in 31 minutes.
Zeke Mayo finished with 12 points in 31 minutes, but went 1 of 7 from 3-point range. Jacob Hanna scored 10 points and grabbed six rebounds with three assists, and Billy Preston led the Jayhawks with 15 points and seven boards on 6-of-15 shooting.
Beasley’s early block on a Mason layup was one of the first signs of how the night would go. Purple Reign kept pushing, and Xavier Sneed and Austin Trice provided plenty of help, finishing with 16 points apiece. Sneed also pulled down eight rebounds, while Trice shot 8 of 9 from the floor.
Beasley and Hollins exchanged words as the teams headed to their locker rooms through the same tunnel at halftime, but the game ended with a different scene. Beasley hugged Collins and Mario Chalmers, who played eight minutes and did not score, during the handshake line.
“You always are upset when that (happens), and no need for it. But that’s what Beasley was doing.
It wasn’t anything malicious. That’s how he gets in your head.
He messes with you,” Collins said. “It was fine.
Our guys responded well, but yes when you do that, you expect to get a retaliation or something like that,” Collins noted.
Collins’ final assessment was simple: Kansas let Beasley get comfortable, and that made everything harder.
“Beasley’s going to be Beasley. He’s tough, man.
He’s a pro. I think everybody knows that.
We’e just gotta make him make stuff tougher for him. I think we let him get comfortable, and we gave him too much respect for sure,” Collins assessed.
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