BLINN MEN DROP 88-86 ROAD GAME TO ODESSA IN OT

Story by Joe Alberico, Blinn College Sports Information

The Blinn College men’s basketball team pushed No. 9 Odessa College to the limit, but ultimately fell short of a signature upset as the Wranglers escaped with an 88-86 overtime win Saturday in Odessa, Texas.

“It was a close game the entire way and we played really well from start to finish,” Buccaneers head coach Scott Schumacher said. “Things just didn’t go our way in the end.”

On the final day of the Wrangler Shootout, Blinn (4-4) gave Odessa all it could handle, going blow for blow with the Wranglers before nearly pulling out a miracle in the final second of regulation.

Trailing 79-76 with just seconds remaining in the second half, sophomore guard Reese Miller was closely guarded as he attempted to drive around the top of the arc. Miller shed his defender and leapt into the air before firing off a 3-pointer that miraculously banked off the backboard and into the basket to tie the game.

Odessa quickly inbounded the ball with about 2 seconds remaining, but Blinn freshman guard Jakeel Registe caught the Wranglers’ JD Bradford sleeping as he quickly swiped the ball away near the basket. Registe floated a prayer to the rim, but it bounced it just as the buzzer sounded.

In overtime, Blinn led by as many as four points before Odessa pulled ahead late.

The Bucs had a chance to force a second overtime, but a bit of controversy and an unfortunate turn at the free throw line spoiled their upset bid.

Down 87-85, Blinn was awarded a bucket on a goaltending call after freshman guard Dashawn Ceaser’s contested layup attempt was swatted away on the backboard, but officials gathered before overturning the call and instead awarded Ceaser a foul and two shots at the free throw line.

Caeser made the front end of his two free throws but couldn’t sink the second, and Odessa came away with the rebound.

The Wranglers were fouled with 0.4 seconds left and made one free throw, and Blinn’s half-court heave as time expired missed its mark.

Miller finished with a team-high 26 points and added five rebounds. Sophomore forward Anthony Isaac tallied 16 points to go with seven rebounds. Freshman forward Ziyade Ndancky had 14 points while Ceaser and freshman guard Jerry Peoples chipped in 10 apiece.

The Buccaneers will take a break from play for the Thanksgiving holiday before kicking off their Region XIV slate with a home matchup against Coastal Bend College at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 4, at the Kruse Center in Brenham, Texas.