BRENHAM, Texas – Blinn College men's basketball got off to a sluggish start but outscored Lone Star College-Tomball by 10 in the second half to earn an 83-69 victory in the season opening game Tuesday night inside the P.E. Building.
The Buccaneers move to 1-0 behind 18 points from James Harrison while LaKendric Hyson chipped in with 13 points.
"It feels great to get back on the court and this is what we have been practicing for," Harrison said. "We are going to get much better in the coming games.
Curtlon Wesley scored in double-digits with 12 points and Antione Lister added in 11 in the victory.
Blinn was a little sluggish out of the gate but was still able to take a 16-11 lead after a driving layup by Wesley. Harrison scored 10 of his 18 points in the first half and his scoring down low opened up the offense as Jarius Kesee cut to the basket for a layup to take a 28-19 Blinn lead with 6:36 left in the opening half. Tomball cut into the lead before half as the Buccaneers held a slim 39-37 lead at the half.
Blinn showed much better energy in the second half as a two-point lead turned into a 56-45 advantage after back to back buckets from Wesley. Harrison and Wesley each scored eight points in the second half to pace the Buccaneers.
"We just had to get used to playing at home and everybody was a little nervous at the beginning," Wesley said. "We just need to work better as a team defensively."
Blinn mostly maintained a double-digit lead throughout the rest of the second half as the Buccaneers held on for the 14-point victory.
Blinn will have another home contest on Thursday, Nov. 3 against Lone Star College – Cy-Fair at 7:30 p.m.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 34 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.
