CEASAR’S BUZZER BEATER LEADS BLINN TO A WIN OVER #17 ANGELINA

Story by Joe Alberico, Blinn College Sports Information

Dashawn Ceaser, with the ball suddenly in his hands and about a second to go, did what every basketball player dreams of: He won the game.

Blinn College's freshman guard collected a loose rebound in the paint just before the final buzzer of Wednesday night's game between the Buccaneers and No. 17 Angelina College, turned quickly through traffic, and lofted a prayer off the backboard that was answered in the form of a thrilling 55-53 victory at the Kruse Center in Brenham, Texas.

"Coach (Scott) Schumacher has told us all season to 'crash the boards,' so when the shot went up and didn't go in, I crashed the boards and grabbed the ball," Caeser said. "I turned around, put the shot up, and I heard the buzzer go off as the ball went in and all of a sudden I was being swarmed by my teammates."

Not only did Ceaser bury the winning shot, he helped make it possible.

Angelina had the ball in its hands inside the 50-second mark with a chance to go ahead, but the Roadrunners' shot clanged off the rim and into the hands of a leaping Ceaser. Blinn then moved quickly down the court to set up the game's dramatic conclusion. 

After the Bucs missed their initial field goal attempt, the loose ball ricocheted off a Buccaneer and a Roadrunner before falling into the hands of a waiting Ceaser.

"What a great basketball game and what an extremely special moment for Dashawn Ceaser," Schumacher said. "Angelina is a great, well-coached team, but I thought our guys rose to the occasion and played extremely well. For us to fight all night like we did and to stay positive and keep working, it just makes me happy for my guys." 

The thrilling ending to the Region XIV showdown was as satisfying for the Buccaneers (13-11 overall, 9-7 Region XIV) as it was redeeming. Blinn and Angelina went down to the wire during their first meeting Jan. 15 in Lufkin, Texas, with the Roadrunners escaping with a win thanks to a 3-pointer in the final second of play.

In the return tilt, the two squads again went blow-for-blow from start to finish.

Angelina trailed Blinn 25-22 late in the first half before going on a 13-2 run that carried over into the second half. The Roadrunners led 31-25 at the break and were ahead 35-27 when the Bucs found some momentum.

Blinn sophomore guard ignited a 14-3 surge when he drilled a 3-pointer, and sophomore forward and rebounding machine Anthony Isaac scored five rebounds to keep the rally going as the hosts pulled ahead 41-38.

The Roadrunners answered with a quick 6-2 burst to grab its last advantage at 44-41, but Isaac tore through the paint for a layup, sophomore guard Reese Miller knocked down a mid-range jump shot, and sophomore forward London Maiden converted a putback and a layup to give Blinn a 49-45 cushion. 

The Bucs led 53-46 after Ceaser hit a 3 with 3:30 remaining, but the Roadrunners battled back one final time thanks to a 7-0 move capped by a pair of free throws with 1:11 to go.

"This game felt just like the last time we played each other, and I think we were ready for anything tonight," Caesar added. "Tonight's win means a lot to everyone on this team and I think it shows the type of team we can be when we come out ready to play."

On the night, Ceaser led Blinn with 15 points, while Isaac picked up his 11th double-double of the year after tallying 13 points and 15 rebounds. Miller also had 13 points, Maiden added eight, and sophomore guard Jaden Andrew dished out eight assists to go with four steals.

Blinn gets back to work when it battles Kilgore College in region play at 4 p.m. on Saturday at the Kruse Center.