BRENHAM, Texas – In easily its toughest test of the preseason, Blinn College men's basketball was able to grab a lead early on and never let go in beating Weatherford College 105-84 Tuesday night inside Blinn's P.E. Building.
The Buccaneers grabbed a lead in the middle of the first half and wouldn't let Weatherford creep any closer to improve the season record to 7-0.
"Weatherford is usually tough to play against because they have big guys that can shoot but I thought we played really well tonight," said Blinn coach Scott Schumacher. "We were able to get a double-digit lead and I don't think it got back down to single digits the rest of the game."
The 7-foot-1 big man in the middle, Link Kabadyundi, was a force down low finishing with 13 points for Blinn while cleaning up a boards and blocking a handful of Weatherford shots.
"Coach has been telling me to use all of my size and be a menace defensively," Kabadyundi said after the game. "My guards are doing a pretty good job of finding me down low on offense."
The regular scoring tandem of Corey Henderson and Morris Dunnigan led the Buccaneers with 25 and 22 points, respectively. After a scoreless first half, John Dewey came alive in the second half with 18 points while running the offense.
Blinn was on early in the first as a basket in the low post by James Harrison gave the Buccaneers a 22-12 lead with 9:48 left in the half. Blinn later scored 11 straight points to grab a 37-17 lead, its biggest lead of the half.
Weatherford fought back into the game slightly before halftime but with Dunnigan and Henderson each scoring 10 points Blinn was able to cling to a 45-33 lead at the break.
Blinn opened the second half on a roll thanks to Dewey looking to score. The Buccaneers opened on a 12-4 run to take a 57-38 lead. Dewey scored early and often in the second half, adding 18 points in the final 20 minutes.
Blinn was able to maintain its lead down the stretch and hold on for the 21-point victory. Henderson scored 15 points and Dunnigan added 12 in the second half.
Blinn will open up Region XIV play with a road game at Bossier Parish Community College on Saturday, Nov. 21 at 4 p.m.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 32 NJCAA national championships since 1987. For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com.
About Blinn College
With an enrollment of 19,422 students, Blinn ranks among the nation's leaders in transferring students to leading four-year universities and has received national recognition for affordable educational excellence. For more information, visit www.blinn.edu.
