Man beaten and robbed during a game of basketball

ATLANTA - Atlanta Police said a man was beaten and robbed by a group of teens, after he loaned them their basketball and played some hoops with them. 

Investigators said the ordeal happened April 27 at Lang-Carson Park in Southeast Atlanta in the Reynoldstown neighborhood.

Police said after the victim played basketball with a group of six teens, he asked for his ball back so he could leave; one of the teens struck the man in the head from behind and knocked him to the ground. The group started beating him and searching his pockets for his belongings, police said. 

The victim's roommate tells FOX 5 the teens threatened to kill the man and tried to steal his car, but failed; police said the teenagers took off with the man's keys and wallet. 

The roommate tells FOX 5 the teens also took his basketball. 

Police found the teenagers blocks away and arrested them, then returned the belongings to the victim. The teens were all 16-years-old and under, police said. 

"It's terrible. I play ball with all these guys and they're all good dudes," said one neighbor. 

People told FOX 5 the culture of these courts is to always play a friendly game with strangers, and are upset over the brutal attack. 

The victim is bruised and sore, but is okay, according to his roommate.