BLINN FALLS TO #3 ODESSA IN WRANGLER SHOOTOUT FINALE

Despite a fast start, the Blinn College men's basketball team fell short of an upset of third-ranked Odessa College on Saturday during the final day of the Wrangler Shootout in Odessa, Texas.

The Wranglers rallied out of a 15-point first-half deficit and pulled away after halftime to top the Buccaneers 78-61.

"The game was closer than the final score would suggest, but Odessa is ranked third in the country for a reason," Blinn head coach Scott Schumacher said. "We were right there with them until about five or six minutes to go, and they tightened things up on us a bit more."

Blinn fell to 7-2 overall after going 1-2 in Odessa.

The Wranglers applied press- and trap-style defensive pressure from the outset, leading to a series of Blinn turnovers late in the first half which allowed the hosts to rally out of a 26-11 hole.

Odessa led 41-38 at the intermission.

"We played really well in the first half," Schumacher added. "It was just a combination of turnovers and Odessa's defense that let them come back and win it."

Sophomore guard Masiah Gilyard ended the three-game Shootout with his third standout showing of the weekend as he finished with a team-high 22 points. Sophomore guard Nick Folk finished with 13 points and sophomore guard Jadin Johnson had 10 points and eight rebounds. 

The Buccaneers return to the court and open Region XIV play when they host Bossier Parish Community College at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 29, at the Kruse Center in Brenham, Texas.

(Story by Joe Alberico, Blinn College Sports Information)