BUC HOOPS SWEEP WEDNESDAY NIGHT DOUBLEHEADER

Buccaneer women notch win against Bossier Parish, 88-70

Alexus Brigham records season-high 27 points

Alexus Brigham tallied a season-high 27 points to lead Blinn College women’s basketball (8-9, 2-4) to an 88-70 win against Bossier Parish Community College on Wednesday night in the Kruse Center on Student Appreciation Night.

“It has been a long time since we have scored like that to open a game and it makes things a lot easier,” said Jeff Jenkins, Blinn head coach. “It is nice to come out at home and play really well because our crowd is unbelievable. It was the best win we have had so far this year, so I am proud of them.”

Kristine Ezimako (18 points), Missy Archie (17 points) and Imani Wimbish-Gay (11 points) joined Brigham in the double-digit points category.

“I came out tonight with a different mindset and throughout the game I started driving, finding my open shot and finding my teammates,” Brigham said. “It was a team effort and we always talk about teamwork, so this was a good win.”

The Buccaneers racked up 27 points in the opening quarter and held the lead for the remainder of the game. Brigham, Wimbish-Gay and Archie led the offensive charge in the first quarter, combining for 20 points.

An 8-0 run in the second quarter, finished off by a three-point basket by Mariel Wade, pulled Blinn ahead 43-26. The Buccaneers went into the break with a 48-28 lead.

“Tonight we really wanted to win, so all had the mindset to start out really hard,” Archie said.

“We want to stay focused and keep fighting for wins.”Blinn kept the momentum in the third quarter, tallying 29 points. Five straight free throw shots put Blinn ahead 73-41. Brigham tacked on the last four points of the quarter with two layups for the Buccaneers to lead 77-45 entering the final stretch. Brigham led Blinn with seven points through the final quarter, sinking a shot from downtown and a duo of two-pointers.

Next, the Buccaneers will travel to face Jacksonville College on Saturday, Jan. 19, at 2 p.m.

Blinn men tops Angelina, 78-64

Kai Tease and AJ Rainey combine for 35 points

The duo of Kai Tease (20 points) and AJ Rainey (15 points) combined for 35 points led the Blinn College men’s basketball team (13-5, 3-5) to a 78-64 win on Wednesday night in the Kruse Center on Student Appreciation Night.

“Angelina guarded us well and their offense took it to the rim, but I give our guys credit because they didn’t crack,” said Scott Schumacher, Blinn head coach. “Tease carried us during the stretch in the first half and in the second half hit two big buckets that were huge.”

Tristan Ikpe accounted for the third Buccaneer to reach double-digit points with 11, while Matt Adams followed with eight points, all in the second half.

“We have had a lot of close games this year, so knew how to keep playing until the end,” Ikpe said. “I was excited to get this win and it was great doing it in front of a packed gym.”

Play in the first five minutes was back-and-forth until two straight three-pointers off the hands of Tease and Rainey put Blinn ahead 19-14. JaQuan Morris hit a three-pointer with 5:00 remaining to give the Buccaneers a 37-22 cushion. A Nic Tata layup gave Blinn a 16-point lead (44-28) at the break.

Angelina responded in the second half with a 25-11 run to gain on Blinn 55-53 at the 9:00 mark. However, Blinn never surrendered the lead in the final half, scoring the next six points to stay ahead 61-53.

Back-to-back shots by Tease kept Blinn ahead by 10 points, 66-56. Adams scored the final four points, sinking two free throws and a layup.

“Once Angelina's big run came close to an end we started making baskets that were comfortable for our team and everything came together,” Tease said. “We stuck together the whole time and came out on top.”

Blinn will host Schreiner University in a non-conference game on Sunday, Jan. 20, at 4 p.m.

For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com.

(COURTESY: Tara Dreyer, Blinn Information)