BLINN MEN’S BASKETBALL BEATS NMMI 100-88 TO IMPROVE TO 6-0

Story by Joe Alberico, Blinn College Sports Information

Career performances for sophomore Dashawn Ceaser and freshman Connor Sprattley lifted the Blinn College men’s basketball team to a 100-88 victory over New Mexico Military Institute on Thursday in Odessa, Texas.

Ceaser tallied a career-high 34 points while Sprattley chipped in with his own career-best 28 as the Buccaneers (6-0) emerged victorious in their Wrangler Club Shootout opener.

“Any time you can go out and get a win, especially against a good team, your players build confidence, so tonight was another big one for us,” Bucs head coach Scott Schumacher said. “Our guys are seeing the kinds of results that will help them continue to buy into what we’re trying to accomplish as a program.”

Blinn is off to its best start since also opening its 2023-24 campaign with a 6-0 mark.

The Bucs' latest win provided a spotlight for two of their emerging stars.

Ceaser notched his second 30-point effort of the season after scoring 33 in a victory over Western Texas on Nov. 6. The second-year guard is averaging a team-high 20.7 points per game, well above his 8.8 per contest last season. Against NMMI, he finished 12 of 15 from the field, went 3 for 3 from the 3-point line, and hit 7 of 8 free throws.

Sprattley has burst onto the scene in his first collegiate season. The guard’s latest showing was his third outing of 20 or more points, while his scoring average jumped to 16.8. He hit seven 3s against the Broncos and finished 9 of 10 from the field. 

Freshman guard Desmeon Jones also had a big impact in Thursday’s victory with 11 points and seven assists. Freshman forward Vejas Matekonis scored 11 points and freshman forward Ian Sedah tacked on eight with a team-best seven rebounds.

Up next, Blinn gets back to work in the Shootout with its biggest test of the season so far. The Bucs take on No. 7 Midland College at 5 p.m. on Friday.