Above photo of Ty Prince at the NABC Reese’s D-III All-Star Game by Steve Frommell, d3photography.com
FORT WAYNE, Indiana- Representing UMHB, Ty Prince led Team Hixon with 23 points in Saturday afternoon’s NABC Reese’s All-Star Game amongst a group of the best seniors in D-III basketball.
It was a fitting way to close out the 6’6 forward’s collegiate career, which included three seasons with the Cru, where he started 66 games and averaged 17.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per contest.
“This was my last time playing college hoops,” Prince said postgame. “I wanted to go out with a bang, but also share the ball [and find success that way].”
Prince played 21 minutes, 16 seconds, in the 116-112 loss for Team Hixon, converting on 11-of-12 shots. He grabbed eight rebounds, which ranked third on the team, dished out an assist, and tallied a steal as well.
The native of Jacksonville, Texas, had a +/- rating of 8, a metric used to measure the difference between a player’s team’s total scoring versus their opponents when that player is in the game. He was one of just four players on Team Hixon with a positive +/- rating.
“Honestly, it was just pace and knowing when to attack,” Prince said of his success on the court. “Really just the same things I’ve been doing.”
Ultimately, the environment inside the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum was loose, and fun was had in a great all-around experience for all 18 players involved. For many, Saturday’s game marked the conclusion of their competitive basketball careers, and they did it inside a spacious arena, coached by hall-of-fame caliber coaches in Dave Hixon and Kevin Vande Streek. Alley-oops were thrown, long 3-pointers were shot, and the music playing inside the arena for the game’s entirety contributed to a memorable experience.
“It was fun,” Prince said postgame. “I got to meet a lot of people and seniors, and create a bond with them. It was a cool opportunity.”
