The Blinn College men's basketball team opened the Wrangler Shootout with a 74-68 victory over New Mexico Junior College on Friday at the Odessa College Sports Center in Odessa, Texas.

The victory improved the Buccaneers to 5-2 overall this season.

"I thought our guys were very focused and we played a hard-fought basketball game," Blinn head coach Scott Schumacher said. "For our team to come out here in West Texas and get a victory today is a good thing for our guys and our program."

The Buccaneers carried a 41-36 advantage into halftime and held on in the final 20 minutes of play to secure the win.

 (Pictured: Blinn College guard Marco Foster, center, shoots during a game against McLennan on Nov. 15)

Leading the way offensively for Blinn was sophomore guard Marco Foster, who scored 14 points. Sophomore guards Jaja Sanni and Elijah Elliott finished with 13 points apiece, and sophomore guard Bakari LaStrap added 12. Freshman forward Jamine Charles had seven points and nine rebounds, while Elliott tacked on seven boards of his own.

Blinn continues the Wrangler Shootout with two more matchups this weekend. The Bucs battle No. 25 Midland College at noon Saturday, Nov. 19, and will face fifth-ranked Odessa College at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 20.

"When we put our schedule together, we felt like we needed to make our schedule harder than it has been in the past," added Schumacher. "We have older guys who we feel can handle that, and we wanted to challenge ourselves before Region XIV play begins." 

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