BUCS SWEEP HOME TWIN BILL

Blinn women pull away from Temple with strong fourth quarter, 68-44

Fast start for Blinn men enough to beat Lone Star-Tomball, 105-79

Offense looked crisp for Buccaneers in second and fourth quarters in home opener

BRENHAM, Texas – The offense didn’t look pretty the entire game for Blinn College women’s basketball but in spurts it was consistent enough to pull out a 68-44 victory over Temple College in the home opener inside the PE Building Tuesday night in Brenham.

For sections of the second quarter and even more so in the fourth quarter the offense looked to run smoothly as those two quarters made the difference in the game for the Buccaneers as they improve to 2-0 on the season.

Ebony Parker led the way for Blinn with 18 points with the help of three 3-pointers as she was able to find space in the zone defense of Temple.

“The first half my shots weren’t really falling but I continued to shoot,” Parker said after the game. “When they played zone I tried to look for the ball more.”

Ekiya Gray chipped in 16 points while Jeliah Preston also scored in double figures with 12 points.

Neither team could create too much separation in the opening quarter as Temple led 15-12 with less than a minute to play but a made jump shot by Preston and two free throws from Gray helped the Buccaneers cling to a 16-15 lead after one. Preston got the offense going in the first 10 minutes with eight points.

The defense stifled Temple in the second quarter and held the visitors to only three points while the offense for Blinn started looking good in the latter part of the quarter. After early turnovers in the quarter, the Buccaneers rolled out a 15-2 run to end the quarter fueled by six points from Parker for a 31-18 lead at the break.

“It seemed like we were finally able to get some stops and push the ball and have a chance to score,” said Blinn head coach Jeff Jenkins. “I thought our defensive effort was good but we just have to play smarter.”

Temple gave a good effort in the third quarter, outscoring Blinn 16-13 to get within 44-34 at the start of the fourth but the final quarter was all Blinn.

The Buccaneers scored the first 11 points of the quarter and never looked back. Parker scored nine points in the quarter in taking advantage of the Temple zone and Blinn was able to outscore Temple 24-10 to cruise to a 68-44 victory.

Blinn will next host Odessa College on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 2 p.m.

Buccaneers outscore Tomball 62-24 in the first 20 minutes

BRENHAM, Texas – Blinn College men’s basketball got off to such a quick start in the first half that was enough to compensate for a sluggish second half as the Buccaneers beat Lone Star College-Tomball 105-79 Tuesday night inside the PE Building in Brenham.

Blinn shot out to a 62-24 lead at the break and cruised to a 25-point victory to improve to 2-0 on the tear.

As good as the first half was the energy was lacking for Blinn in the second half as Tomball was able to outscore the Buccaneers 55-43 for the final 20 minutes.

“I feel that we played extremely well in the first half and did what we needed to do,” said Blinn head coach Scott Schumacher. “I thought in the second half that we didn’t have the same intensity to us.”

Corey Henderson was able to lead Blinn with 18 points that were all scored in the opening half when the offense was clicking.

“I just have to credit my teammates for putting me in a position to score,” Henderson said. “We need to stay on our opponent because we let up a little in the second half and coach let us know about it.”

Morris Dunnigan came in with 14 points, Link Kabadyundi chipped in 13 while John Dewey and Jaequon Brown each had 10 points in the win.

Everything seemed to come easily for Blinn in the opening minutes as it jumped out to a 26-9 lead after a bucket in the post from Brown. Henderson helped to pour on the points from the inside and outside as he put up 18 points in the first 20 minutes while Brown scored nine. With all the offense to go around, Blinn led 62-24 at the half.

Blinn didn’t come out with the same energy in the second half and Tomball took advantage, outscoring the Buccaneers 55-43 in the second half. Dunnigan put together a solid stretch of offense with eight second half points as Blinn was able to hold on to victory while getting some court time for reserve players.

Blinn will host Houston Community College on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 7:30 p.m.

For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com.

(Story & photos courtesy, Jake Gordon, Blinn Information)