VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University Trailblazers made another big jump in this week's NJCAA Division I National rankings, moving up eight spots to No. 8 in the country, No. 3 in the Nielsen File Top 25 rankings and No. 5 in the JUCO Advocate Media Poll.
The Trailblazers got their first opportunity to back up this big jump in the rankings Wednesday night when the Blazers hosted Lincoln Trail College from Robinson, Ill. inside the P.E. Complex.
Vincennes got off to a tough start in the first half and headed into the locker room trailing the Statesmen by three but were able to come out firing in the second half to put up 62 second half points and close out the 93-72 victory over Lincoln Trail.
Things got off to a rocky start Wednesday night for the Trailblazers, as Lincoln Trail was the first team to break away with an 11-1 run to go ahead by 11 late in the first half.
Vincennes was able to rally back and close the margin before halftime however, ending the first half on a 10-3 run to head into the locker room break trailing the Statesmen 34-31.
Coming out of the locker room VU Hall of Fame Head Coach Todd Franklin opted for a new lineup and this group would prove to be the spark as the Blazers opened the second half with nine straight points to take a 40-31 lead.
The Trailblazers continued to ride this momentum, outscoring the Statesmen 41-17 at one point during the second half as VU began to pull away with a 76-54 lead.
Vincennes was able to put the game in cruise control late and empty the bench as the Trailblazers came away with the big 93-72 victory over Lincoln Trail College.
VU was led offensively by a big second half from freshman Dayton Williams (Louisville, Ky.) who finished off his fourth double-double of the season with 22 points, 10 rebounds and a team-high five assists.
Freshman Jalen Calloway (Chicago, Ill.) provided a big spark for the Trailblazers at both ends of the floor, coming away with 19 points, six rebounds and three assists.
Sophomore Hussein Elmaraghy (Cairo, Egypt) once again set a new season-high in points, coming off the bench to finish his night with 19 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
Freshman Travelle Bryson (Anderson, S.C.) was the fourth VU scorer in double figures, coming off the bench to add 16 points, four rebounds and four assists.
The Trailblazers as a team shot 64 percent from the floor in the second half Wednesday night, including hitting 73 percent from behind the three point arc, hitting eight of 11 shots.
Vincennes will look to keep their now 14 game winning streak going as the Blazers prepare to host Southwestern Illinois College inside the Physical Education Complex Saturday, Feb. 8 at 4 p.m. eastern.
The Blazers defeated the Blue Storm 82-59 earlier this season in Belleville behind 15 points by Jalen Calloway and 13 points by sophomore Michael Cooper (Minneapolis, Minn.).
VINCENNES BOX SCORE
VINCENNES (93): Bryan Akanmu 1-5 4-4 6, Michael Cooper 0-4 1-2 1, Ali Sakho 0-1 0-0 0, Lebron Thomas 1-3 6-7 8, Dayton Williams 8-18 4-5 22, Christian Andrews 0-2 0-0 0, Meyoh Swansey 0-2 0-0 0, Jalen Calloway 7-9 1-2 19, Taveon Smith 0-1 0-0 0, Travelle Bryson 5-9 2-2 16, Kenaz Ochogwu 1-1 0- 2, Hussein Elmaraghy 9-11 1-3 19, Team 32-66 19-25 93.
Lincoln Trail – 34 38 – 72
VU (20-3, 10-0) – 31 62 – 93
Three-point goals: VU 10 (Calloway 4, Bryson 4, Williams 2). Rebounds: VU 38 (Williams 10). Assists: VU 24 (Williams 5). Steals: VU 7 (Thomas 2, Bryson 2). Blocked Shots: VU 4 (Thomas, Calloway, Bryson, Elmaraghy). Turnovers: VU 11. Personal Fouls: VU 8. Fouled out: None.
