No. 14 Trailblazers fall in National Quarterfinals to No. 6 Panola

*Photos courtesy of Kristy Ehart Photography and the NJCAA*

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The Vincennes University Men's Basketball team hit the floor Wednesday night in the 2025 NJCAA Division I National Tournament at the Hutchinson Sports Arena in Kansas.

The Trailblazers played in the National Quarterfinals with another tough opponent waiting for them in No. 6 seed Panola College from Carthage, Tex.

The Blazers got off to a tough start, with Panola quickly jumping out to an early 14-5 lead over Vincennes.

VU would respond with a 9-2 scoring run later in the first half to cut the deficit down to one point.

Vincennes would finally break through late in the first half with an 8-0 scoring run to take a 36-31 lead.

Panola answered back with a pair of threes to regain the lead before the Blazers closed out the first half with a late basket to head into the locker room break even at 40-40.

Panola once again got off to a fast start in the second half, opening the period on a 12-2 scoring run to take a 52-42 lead.

Vincennes regained composure and would use an 11-4 run to cut the Ponies lead down to three at 56-53.

VU was stay trailing by three at 62-59 before Panola broke away late by outscoring VU 11-4.

Vincennes attempted a late comeback but were unable to erase the deficit as the Trailblazers fell by the final score of 75-67 to Panola.

The Blazers were led offensively by freshman Travelle Bryson (Anderson, S.C.) who got the VU offense going early with 17 first half points, including hitting five threes and grabbing three rebounds.

VU sophomore and 2025 NJCAA Division I Region 24 Player of the Year Lebron Thomas (Bishopville, S.C.) also matched Bryson's total of 17 points in the game, while also leading the Blazers with seven assists and six rebounds.

Thomas ends his Trailblazer career with exactly 1,000 career points in his two season in Blue and Gold, becoming the 40th player in VU Men's Basketball history to surpass the 1,000 point milestone.

Sophomore Bryan Akanmu (Paris, France) was the third VU scorer in double figures Wednesday night, scoring 10 points and grabbing six rebounds while dishing out five assists.

The Trailblazers close out their 2024-25 campaign with a final record of 28-5, winning 22 of their final 24 games and holding an impressive 16-1 record against Region 24 opponents.

VINCENNES BOX SCORE

VINCENNES (67): Bryan Akanmu 5-12 0-1 10, Lebron Thomas 5-12 7-8 17, Travelle Bryson 5-7 2-2 17, Dayton Williams 2-2 0-0 5, Hussein Elmaraghy 1-4 4-4 6, Christian Andrews 0-0 0-0 0, Taveon Smith 0-1 0-0 0, Michael Cooper 1-1 4-5 6, Darstin Onye 0-0 0-0 0, Ali Sakho 1-2 0-0 2, Kenaz Ochogwu 2-3 0-0 4, Team 22-44 17-20 67.

VU (28-5, 16-1) – 40   27 – 67

Panola – 40   35 – 75

Three-point goals: VU 6 (Bryson 5, Williams). Rebounds: VU 34 (Akanmu 6, Thomas 6). Assists: VU 14 (Thomas 7). Steals: VU 3 (Williams 2). Blocked Shots: VU 3 (Thomas 2). Turnovers: VU 14. Personal Fouls: VU 19. Fouled out: Elmaraghy. Technical Fouls: Thomas (1st – 13:30), Coach (2nd – 17:57).