CHICAGO, Ill. – The Vincennes University Trailblazers hit the road Saturday afternoon for the final game of the 2024 portion of the season taking on Malcolm X College in Chicago.
The Trailblazers survived a late surge by the Hawks and were able to come away with the 96-93 victory, giving VU Hall of Fame Head Coach Todd Franklin his 400th victory at Vincennes University.
Vincennes got off to a slow start Saturday afternoon, facing a physical first half with VU shooting 18 free throws in the first 20 minutes the Blazers were able to hang close in a back and forth opening period.
VU scored the final four points of the first half to cut the deficit to three heading into the locker room break, trailing the Hawks 42-39 at halftime.
Coming out of the locker room in the second half the Trailblazers looked to increase their intensity and did with a flurry of baskets at the rim to take the lead back early in the second half at 43-42.
Vincennes would continue to build on this early lead with a 16-0 scoring run to put the Blazers ahead 69-50.
VU would continue to ride this momentum to their largest lead of the night at 81-59 before the Hawks began to chip away at the deficit.
Malcolm X College came back to life midway through the second half with 10 straight points to get back within 12.
The Hawks would cut the lead down to single digits at 89-81 as part of a larger 16-4 run to get back within four at 91-87.
Malcolm X ultimately cut the lead down to two before sophomore Michael Cooper (Minneapolis, Minn.) hit one of two free throws to get the Blazers back up by three.
Malcolm X raced down the court with just under 10 seconds remaining and were unable to convert on the last second three-point attempt as the Blazers come away with the 96-93 victory over Malcolm X College.
“This was a weak finish to a basketball game,” VU Hall of Fame Head Coach Todd Franklin said. “We didn’t want to play or be disciplined in the first half and were fortunate to be down three. We had some things that were addressed at halftime and then we decided to play and we go up by 20.”
“Then we decide to go for our own points,” Franklin added. “We decided to stop guarding and we decided to start doing silly things. I’m over here telling everyone what’s about to happen and it did and then we had very little step up at all. We throw the ball back behind the half court line. We were up 10 with a minute left and we run off shooters and give them easy kick out threes.”
“We survived the brunt of it and we had control to get the ball down the floor and center it, run the clock down and run an action, get an open shot or get fouled,” Franklin said. “We got it where we were able to maintain it through the end and we just couldn’t do it. We had our timeouts if we got into trouble and we threw the ball away.”
“Defensively we just stopped getting into any kind of stance,” Franklin added. “I was very disappointed but I saw it coming. I tried to stop it but we are going to have to find some more toughness, more discipline and some more sharpness. For the first 10 minutes of the second half we were alright. We got the win. Give Malcolm X credit, they kept fighting and playing.”
The Trailblazers were led offensively by freshman Kenaz Ochogwu (East Providence, R.I) who finished with 18 points, 16 of which coming in the second half and three rebounds.
Sophomore and 2024 NJCAA All-American Lebron Thomas (Bishopville, S.C.) also had a big second half, scoring 13 of his 15 points in the final 20 minutes, while also grabbing a pair of rebounds and dishing out two assists.
Freshman Dayton Williams (Louisville, Ky.) also finished his night with 15 points, while filling the stats sheet with a team-high eight assists, six rebounds, five blocks and three steals.
Freshman Christian Andrews (Asheville, N.C) came off the bench to add 14 points, hitting 11 of 12 free throws in the game, while also grabbing three rebounds.
Sophomore Michael Cooper was the fifth and final VU double figure scorer Saturday night, ending his game with 13 points, seven rebounds and four assists off the bench.
“I’m pretty disappointed but these guys need to be really disappointed,” Franklin said. “They have got to decide if they are going to listen and do and if they really want this bad enough to be tough enough to do what’s necessary. We started going in the right direction but it was like pulling teeth to get there.”
“We started Kenaz in the second half because no one else wanted to do it,” Franklin added. “He’s had his turns where he hasn’t wanted to do it. We told him to go out there, run to the block and they can’t guard you and he is one that did step up some. I thought we missed him a couple other times too. When we were up 20 he got to where he was sealed and guys just didn’t throw the ball in there and I’m bothered by that. But he had the advantage and handled it and I thought had a good half.”
“We did better things the first 10 minutes of the second half,” Franklin said. “We went from being down eight to up 22. But we let up. Made a couple of bad plays and bad turnovers. All of a sudden, it’s down to 14 or 16 instead of 22 or 24 and then we got everybody fouled out. I’m trying to get these guys where they said they want to go and they are going to have to decide if they want it that bad.”
The Trailblazers increase their winning streak to five Saturday and will look to add to this streak when VU returns home after the Holiday break Saturday, Jan. 4.
