Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Wichita State Shockers guard Evan Wessel (3) reacts after making a three point basket against the Kansas Jayhawks during the second half in the third round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament
Alumni games tend to be pretty low-stakes affairs where players are primarily trying to put on an entertaining show for fans. However, that is not the case when there are millions of dollars on the line, and a showdown between basketball players who once played for Kansas and Wichita State turned into a heated affair marred by multiple fights.
The University of Kansas and Wichita State are both located in Kansas, but there’s no real rivalry between the men’s basketball teams that have met just 16 times since facing off for the first time all the way back in 1908.
You probably won’t be shocked to learn the Jayhawks have the edge in the all-time series with a 13-3 record, and the blue blood also has the advantage when it comes to the overall talent that’s come through Lawrence over the decades.
It seemed safe to assume Kansas would walk away with a victory in an alumni game that was held at Wichita State’s Charles Koch Arena on Monday night, which served as the semifinal for an edition of The Basketball Tournament where the winning team will walk away with $2 million.
That ended up being the case, but things got very interesting after some bad blood boiled over.
Nine players were ejected from an alumni game between Kansas State and Wichita State as multiple fights broke out
A total of 14 teams were invited to compete in the 2026 edition of The Basketball Tournament, which features a bracket divided into “Alumni” and “Non-Alumni” sides.
The latter boasts six squads made up of semi-pro and former college players that came together in the hopes of winning the $2 million prize reserved for the team that survives the gauntlet, while the former is comprised of eight clubs consisting of guys who all played for the same school at some point in the past.
On Monday, JHX, a team of Kansas alums headlined by Mario Chalmers, faced off against the Wichita State products who made up the Aftershocks. Each team started the game with plenty of subs to work with, but that was no longer the case after things took an ugly turn toward the end of the second quarter.
Wichita State was up 23-22 when former Shocker Rashard Kelly got tangled up with Chalmers near the baseline, which led to a massive scuffle that caused the benches to clear.
TEMPERS FLARE BETWEEN KANSAS AND WICHITA. 😳 pic.twitter.com/xAsfmAEqDm
— TBT (@thetournament) July 28, 2026
Kelly and Chalmers were among the nine players who were ejected for their role in the melee, and both teams had to play the remainder of the game with just six guys available. Kansas was ultimately able to pull away when the Elam Ending format kicked in when the fourth quarter rolled around, and Frank Mason sealed the deal with a three-pointer from the logo that secured the 64-58 victory.
However, things took yet another turn when a second fracas broke out, which escalated when Wichita State’s Marcus Keene shoved Jacob Hanna into an unsuspecting female staffer for JHX.
Absolute madness.
Frank Mason wins it for JHX Hoops, but another fight, this one a full blown one, breaks out right after the game. pic.twitter.com/bur4UcVg8E
— Taylor Eldridge (@tayloreldridge) July 28, 2026
It appears Marcus Keene of the AfterShocks pushes Jacob Hanna of JHX Hoops at the end of their TBT game and Hanna falls into a staff member from JHX Hoops. Both and Hanna and the staff member were treated for injuries and the incident turned into a full-blown fracas. #tbt pic.twitter.com/AWTB4vBNXE
— Travis Heying (@travisheying) July 28, 2026
Hannah had to receive medical treatment for a cut that led to his jersey being covered in blood, and it’s safe to say Keene was not apologetic based on what he had to say when he hopped online after the contest.
Kansas earned the right to face off against the Kentucky alums who make up the team dubbed “La Familia” on Wednesday, and the winner of that game will take on the winner on the non-alumni side for the $2 million prize in Las Vegas on August 2nd.