TBT Home | 2021 TBT Bracket

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Just a few wins away from a big-time payday.

That is the reality for a couple of former NM State men's basketball greats who are currently competing in the 2021 edition of The Basketball Tournament (TBT). Troy Gillenwater (2009-11), and Trevelin Queen (2018-20) are each trying to help their respective teams obtain a $1 million prize in the 64-team single-elimination tournament which is in its eighth year of existence.

Both Queen has his teams in the round of 16 while Gillenwater's run in 2021's TBT begins Friday afternoon. A third former Aggie, Jemerrio Jones (2016-18) saw his run in the 2021 TBT come to an end Monday afternoon when his fourth-seeded Armored Athlete squad suffered a 79-60 setback to 12th-seeded Bucketneers in the second round of the 64-team tournament.

Jemerrio Jones | #4 Armored Athlete (West Virginia region)
A member of Armored Athlete from the get-go, Jones helped the fourth-seeded team in the West Virginia region advance to the second round of the 2021 TBT. The one-time Los Angeles Laker, 2018 WAC Player of the Year and 2020 All-NBA G League Third Team selection averaged 2.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.0 blocked shots per game for Armored Athlete through its two-game run.

During Armored Athlete's 88-52 first-round victory over 13th-seeded HBCUnited, Jones' highlight-reel pass to Tariq Owens leading to an emphatic slam dunk wound up as the number-two play on SportsCenter's Top 10 plays of Sunday, July 18, 2021.

Trevelin Queen | #1 Eberlein Drive (Wichita region)
A late addition to top-seeded Eberlein Drive, Queen has continued his exciting - and efficient - style of play in order to help one of TBT's favorites move on to the round of 16. Blowout victories are what Eberlein Drive have generated in each of its first two TBT bouts.

In the team's opening TBT tilt, Queen pumped in 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting while adding four rebounds, two blocked shots and an assist in Eberlein Drive's palindromic 86-68 triumph over the 16th-seeded NG Saints.

Pitted against the ninth-seeded Stillwater Stars - a first-time TBT squad featuring a roster comprised mostly of former Oklahoma State players - Queen and Eberlein Drive cruised to a 119-67 victory. In just 18 minutes of action, Queen finished with 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting, four rebounds, three assists, a blocked shot and a steal to help his squad hammer the Doug Gottleib-coached Stars.

Through his two games in 2021's TBT, Queen is averaging 14.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.5 blocked shots and 0.5 steals in 20.0 minutes per game. The Glen Burnie, Md., product has put up shooting splits of .588/.556/.600 during that same span, too, drawing praise from noted ESPN college basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla both within the broadcast itself as well as on social media.

Tuesday evening, Queen and top-seeded Eberlein Drive will try to punch a ticket to Dayton, Ohio, for TBT's quarterfinal round. At 5:00 p.m. MT, Eberlein Drive tangles with fifth-seeded Florida TNT at Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kan., to keep its hopes for the $1 million prize alive. ESPN2 will air the third-round clash with Eric Collins, Fraschilla and Jen Hale on the call.

Troy Gillenwater | #4 Team Hines (Columbus region)
The last of the three former Aggie stars to begin his run in the 2021 edition of TBT, Gillenwater and fourth-seeded Team Hines won't be in action until Friday, July 23, at 2:00 p.m. MT when they take on 13th-seeded Brown & White on ESPN3.

A three-year letterwinner for the Aggies from 2008-11, Gillenwater closed the books on his collegiate career with 1,065 points (28th-most in program history). The Boston, Mass., product found himself on the receiving end of All-WAC First Team and NABC All-District Six First Team honors in the 2010-11 season.

Gillenwater assisted the Aggies in claiming the 2010 WAC Tournament title and took part in the 2010 NCAA Tournament that same season. To this day, he ranks among the program's top ten players in terms of total blocked shots (82, 10th). Since his departure from NM State, Gillenwater has enjoyed a lengthy professional career in locales such as Israel, Turkey, Russia, Puerto Rico and Japan. Most recently, Gillenwater suited up for the Shandong Heroes in China. In 22 games with the Heroes in 2020-21, Gillenwater averaged 19.9 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. 

The ESPN family of networks is providing complete coverage of the 2021 edition of TBT. For a complete coverage schedule, visit this link.

NM State men's basketball is continuing to prepare for its 2021-22 season. Fans can purchase season tickets for the Aggie' latest campaign by calling the Pan American Center ticket office at 575-646-1420. For complete coverage of Aggie hoops, follow NM State men's basketball on Facebook (NM State Men's Basketball), Twitter (@NMStateMBB) and Instagram (@NMStateMBB).

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