Mathurin shines to send Team Jalen to Rising Stars championship game

Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin scored 18 points in the semifinals of the Panini Rising Stars tournament.

INDIANAPOLIS — Bennedict Mathurin put on a show in front of the hometown fans to advance his team to the championship of the Panini Rising Stars tournament at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Mathurin scored 18 points for the team coached by former Indiana Pacer Jalen Rose, including the winning basket to send his team to the title game. 

Moments after missing a pair of free throws that would have pushed Team Jalen to the game-winning 40-point target score, Mathurin pulled up from 14 points and hit a jump shot to clinch the 40-35 win.

Mathurin shot 7 of 13 in the contest, including a pair of three-pointers. Pelicans guard Jordan Hawkins added seven points ad a game-high five rebounds in the victory.

PHOTOS: Panini Rising Stars

Purdue alum Jaden Ivey, who currently plays for the Detroit Pistons, scored eight points for a team led by Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings. Portland’s Scoot Henderson led Team Tamika with 10 points. 

Team Jalen advances to face the winner of the second semifinal between a team of NBA first- and second-year stars coached by Hall of Famer Pau Gasol and a roster of NBA G League stars, which is coached by former Pacer Detlef Schrempf.

Oscar Tshiebwe, who has played seven games with the Pacers this season while spending the majority of the year with the G League’s Indiana Mad Ants, is on Schrempf’s roster for the game.

Gasol’s roster is  highlighted by No. 1 overall pick in last year’s NBA draft, Victor Wembanyama.

This story will be updated.