BLINN MEN’S BASKETBALL EARNS FIRST WIN OF THE SEASON
(Story by Joe Alberico, Blinn College Sports Information)
The Blinn College men's basketball team earned its first victory of the season Thursday night, defeating Southern Arkansas Tech University 67-55 at the Kruse Center in Brenham, Texas.
The Buccaneers improved to 1-2 overall.
"I'm happy for our players. We've actually played well for two games; we've just made a lot of mistakes. We got better at that today. It's going to be a long road, but we've got class-act kids that are quality people and they're really good basketball players," Blinn head coach Scott Schumacher said.
Blinn took a 33-27 lead into halftime before extending its advantage in the second half.
The Bucs received a major contribution from sophomore wing Kendarius Johnson, who bounced back from a difficult offensive start to the season. Johnson led all scorers with 16 points, helping Blinn pull away in the second half. He scored 14 of his points after halftime and finished 7 of 12 from the field.
"I believe in my ability, so I know eventually the shots are going to fall," Johnson said. "I think I'm the luckiest player in our conference. My team trusts me. I trust them. So that gets us far."
Freshman wing Monte Farmer recorded a double-double with 10 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. He also contributed two steals and two blocks. Freshman forward Ognjen Bodrozic added 13 points and six rebounds, while sophomore wing Jeremiah Lucas finished with nine points.
Sophomore guard Tyson Tucker dished out a team-high seven assists, and freshman Kevin White contributed six points and three assists.
The Bucs' defensive effort played a significant role in the victory. Blinn held Southern Arkansas Tech to 32% shooting from the field and 19% from 3-point range while collecting 11 steals and six blocks.
Schumacher said the coaching staff turned to a full-court press to take advantage of the team's length and athleticism.
"When you're 0-2, you try whatever you need to make something stick. Our guys did a really good job. We're long, we're athletic, we're competitive, and I felt that played into their strengths," Schumacher said.
Blinn also outrebounded Southern Arkansas Tech 41-35 and finished with 19 assists. The Bucs' balanced offensive attack featured nine different players scoring.
Farmer said the team's improved chemistry and willingness to play unselfishly helped make the difference.
"We started 0-2 and were playing a little selfishly," Farmer said. "Coach got on us about playing team ball, and I feel like we played really well as a team today. It helped us get the win."
Schumacher said developing that chemistry will remain important as the Bucs continue working through a young roster.
"They just have to learn that you've got to play for each other. The strength of the wolf is in the pack. You've got to move the ball, you've got to trust each other, and you've got to gang rebound," Schumacher said.
Blinn continues its season with a home matchup against Western Texas College at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, at the Kruse Center in Brenham, Texas.