BRENHAM, Texas – Staring down its third straight loss, Blinn College men’s basketball used an 18-2 run late to complete a come from behind 84-81 victory over Jacksonville College Jan. 17 in Brenham.
Trailing 74-63 with 6:25 left, Blinn kicked off its pivotal run that made the difference in the game. Following the run, the Buccaneers grabbed their first lead since the first half and they were able to hold onto that lead to improve their conference record to 6-3 and 14-4 overall.
Jalan McCloud and Lionheart Leslie were both key factors during the run and the entire game as they combined for 50 of the 84 total points scored by Blinn. Leslie scored 27 points and McCloud added 23 on the night.
“We fought through adversity and didn’t want to lose,” McCloud said after the game. “We just had to be patient on offense because the shots were going to fall.”
Vicktor Arnick added 12 points while Tyler Pate nailed three 3-pointers in the second half to finish with nine points.
Blinn had a hard time getting the ball into the basket in the opening half but they fought for every single point and even grabbed a 21-20 lead with 6:06 left in the half. That would be the final lead of the half for Blinn as Jacksonville controlled the momentum and ended the half with a 35-29 lead.
Momentum went back and forth in the second half until Jacksonville was able to extend its lead to 10 at 65-55 with 9:40 left. The Jacksonville lead was 11 points when Blinn reeled off its 18-2 run that was fueled by the play of McCloud and Leslie in the backcourt.
“That is one thing about our team,” said Blinn head coach Scott Schumacher. “The whole time we show a lot of poise and we never panic.”
Blinn was finally able to break through the pressure and use its big run to grab an 81-76 lead with 2:15 left. Jacksonville got within one point in the final minute but Blinn was able to hold on for the three-point victory.
This game was the Buccaneers “Here I am Orphan Ministries” fundraiser game, in which Blinn raises money for the Christian non-profit ministry that cares for orphans through prayer, missions, education, advocacy and adoption awareness. The fundraising effort is part of Blinn’s annual Adopt-a-Charity program, in which all Blinn athletic programs dedicate a portion of its gate proceeds towards that year’s charity. For more information on Here I am Orphan Ministries, visit www.orphanministries.com.
Blinn will be on the road when it faces San Jacinto College-Central Jan. 21 at 7 p.m.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 30 NJCAA national championships since 1987. For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com.
