JACKSONVILLE, Texas – Blinn College men’s basketball was able to come back from trailing by 12 points in the second half but couldn’t come up with the offense down the stretch as Angelina College pulled away for an 80-74 victory in the Region XIV quarterfinals in Jacksonville.
Blinn held a 73-72 lead in the final minutes after trailing by double digits but Angelina was able to get a bucket soon thereafter in the post to retake the lead. The Buccaneers only scored one more point after taking the lead and will finish the season with a 23-9 record overall.
Jalan McCloud was able to turn on his game in the second half by scoring all 22 of his points in the latter half to help Blinn make the game tight down the stretch. Vicktor Arnick and Ja’Cardo Hawkins were both able to finish with 13 points in the loss.
“Jalan played well and I thought our whole team fought hard,” said Blinn head coach Scott Schumacher. “We were down in the second half but after that it was nip and tuck the entire game.”
Angelina came out strong in the first half but Blinn was able to hang around in the opening half but still trailed 36-31 at the break.
Angelina was able to carry over a little momentum in the second half and shot out to a 53-41 lead in the middle of the second half but Blinn would not go away quietly. With McCloud hitting shots and scoring 22 points in the final 20 minutes, Blinn was able to secure a 73-72 lead down the stretch.
That lead didn’t last long as Angelina made nearly all the plays in the final minute and came away with the six-point victory.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 30 NJCAA national championships since 1987. For more information, visit: www.buccaneersports.com.
