KILGORE HOLDS ON TO DEFEAT BLINN MEN’S BASKETBALL 72-68

Story by Joe Alberico, Blinn College Sports Information

The Blinn College men’s basketball team went blow-for-blow with Kilgore College from start to finish but fell just short in a 72-68 Region 14 home loss on Saturday at the Kruse Center in Brenham, Texas.

The Buccaneers are now 7-5 overall and 1-3 in region play.

“We competed and fought hard down the stretch with a Kilgore team that is extremely talented,” Blinn head coach Scott Schumacher said. “We made an adjustment at halftime and got much better looks offensively in the second half, and we were able to get down hill and get to the hoop and get some wide-open 3-pointers; we just didn’t cash in on enough of those opportunities.”

Kilgore went on a 21-10 run that ended the first half and led to a 36-27 Rangers advantage at the break.

The Bucs spent the second half nipping at Kilgore’s heels and never let the visitors’ cushion exceed 10 points. 

Blinn cut its deficit to four three times in the second half.

After the Rangers made it a 70-60 ballgame in the final minute, the Bucs used an 8-2 burst to make things interesting. However, Blinn had to resort to fouls to create new possessions and was unable to get over the hump in the final moments.

“It’s a long season, and we’re going to stay positive and come back from break ready to get going again,” Schumacher added.

Sophomore guard Dashawn Ceaser tallied a team-high 20 points for his 11th double-digit effort of the season. He has four games this season of 20 or more points. 

Freshman guard/forward Ian Sedah followed with 15 points and a season-high 17 rebounds for Blinn, his third double-double of the year. Bucs freshman guard Desmeon Jones had 12 points and five assists.

Blinn out-rebounded the Rangers 44-29.

The Bucs will pause their season for the holiday break before resuming play with a region home tilt against Panola against Panola College at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 3.