The Blinn College men's basketball came up short in a 67-59 loss to No. 21 McLennan Community College on Tuesday at the Kruse Center in Brenham, Texas.

The setback dropped the Buccaneers to 4-2 overall. 

The game was competitive until the final buzzer and was ultimately decided by a 13-2 run for the Highlanders. 

Blinn sophomore guard Jaja Sanni sank a pull-up jumper to cap an 11-3 run that pulled his team to within 48-46 in the second half, but a McLennan 3-pointer ignited its decisive move, and the Bucs were unable to recover.

(Pictured: Blinn College sophomore guard Elijah Elliott, 1, attempts a layup during a game against McLennan Community College on Nov. 15)

"I thought it was a very hard-fought game," Blinn head coach Scott Schumacher said. "McLennan is ranked in the top 25 for a reason; they're a very good basketball team, they're well-coached, and they play hard. I thought our guys played right there with them and did a good job, and these games are designed to prepare us for conference play and the region tournament, so we'll learn from it."

McLennan carried a 36-33 lead into halftime.

Leading the way offensive for Blinn was sophomore guard Elijah Elliott, who finished with 17 points. Fellow sophomore guards Marco Foster, Bakari LaStrap, and Damian Watson tallied 11, 10, and nine points, respectively.

The Buccaneers resume their season when they take on New Mexico Junior College to begin the Wrangler Shootout at noon on Friday, Nov. 18, at Odessa College in Odessa, Texas. Blinn will face No. 25 Midland College in the Shootout at noon on Saturday, Nov. 19, and wrap up the competition with a tilt against No. 5 Odessa College at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 20.

Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 42 NJCAA national championships since 1987.