Florida TNT vs. Fort Wayne Champs: Florida TNT Survives Physical Battle in 2022 TBT Round of 64

Photos: Jonathan Sepchinski

022 TBT Regional – Round of 64

The opening tip felt less like a summer tournament and more like March.

Florida TNT and Fort Wayne Champs wasted no time establishing the tone: physical drives, contested perimeter looks, and no wasted possessions. From the first five minutes, it was clear this wasn’t a casual alumni reunion — it was a million-dollar bracket.

Florida TNT leaned on downhill pressure early, attacking gaps in transition and forcing Fort Wayne to defend in space. The Champs countered by slowing tempo and leaning into half-court execution, working through high ball screens to create mismatches at the elbow.

The game turned midway through the second half when Florida TNT strung together a defensive stretch that flipped momentum entirely — two steals, a chasedown block, and a corner three that ignited the bench.

Under the Elam Ending format, every possession intensified. Fort Wayne’s composure kept them within striking distance, but Florida TNT’s spacing and shot selection ultimately sealed the contest.

Tournament basketball rarely eases teams in gently. This one was survival from the start.