Houston, Texas — There was a final score, but both teams were winners at the second annual HBCU All-Star game Sunday held at Texas Southern University.
Behind Maryland Eastern Shore forward Nathaniel Pollard’s double-double of 10 points and a game-high 14 rebounds; Team Dr. Dick Barnett was able to hold on to its lead to defeat Team Willis Reed 113 – 99. Despite Texas Southern forward Joirdon Karl Nicholas’ 26-point, 10-rebound performance, Team Willis Reed was not able to complete the 30-point comeback.
Poor shooting from behind the arc was the major downfall for Team Reed, as they only made seven
of their 28 attempted 3-pointers compared to Team Barnett’s nearly 50% clip.
Congratulations to Nathaniel Pollard Jr. on being named the MVP of the 2023 HBCU All-Star Game after posting a double-double to help Team Dr. Dick Barnett to victory! #hbcuallstargame #thebestinblackcollegebasketball pic.twitter.com/3cwGUE51kP
— HBCU All-Star Game (@HBCUAllStarGame) April 3, 2023
Team Barnett started hot behind Grambling State’s Cameron Christon’s monster dunk to open
the scoring and an exceptional ally-oop to Joirdon Karl Nicholas, leading to an early 4-0 lead.
Team Barnett was able to heat up from the 3-point line, hitting nine in the first half and
dominating in transition as they outscored Team Reed 10-0 on the fastbreak.
They held a 15-point advantage going into halftime behind North Carolina A&T State guard Demetric Horton’s 10 points, four rebounds, and North Carolina Central center Brendan Medley-Bacon’s nine points.
Morehouse forward Kerry Richardson came out of the gates blazing in the second half for Team
Barnett. He scored eight points in the first minute and a half on his way to a team-high 14 points for
the game. By the 10-minute mark in the second half, Team Barnett pulled out to a 30-point lead.
POLLARD RACK ATTACK.
What a jam from the @ESHawksHoops star. @HBCUAllStarGame pic.twitter.com/HO0lodHrLU
— CBS Sports College Basketball
(@CBSSportsCBB) April 2, 2023
The last 10 minutes of the contest belonged to Team Reed, as they were able to cut down that 30-
point deficit to as low as 10 by the final minute of action.
This was mainly partly due to the exceptional play of Texas Southern’s dynamic Joirdon Karl Nicholas and John Walker III duo.
Nicholas finished with 26 points, ten rebounds, and three assists. Walker III added 17 points on
7- of-9 shooting from the field. Team Reed was also propelled with 13 points from both Grambling State’s Cameron Christon and Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Shaun Doss Jr.
Team Barnett saw 11 of its 12 players score three or more baskets in the game. Kerry Richardson had
14 points and seven rebounds. Demetric Horton scored 12 points and grabbed five rebounds, while Norfolk State guard Joe Bryant pitched in with 11 points and four assists.
HBCU All-Star Game MVP Nathaniel Pollard’s 10 points and 14 rebounds led the way for the squad.
Pollard described his performance as “something that came naturally” and credited it with staying
in the gym during his spring break.
Courtesy: Nathan A. Monteith, HBCU All-Stars LLC
