CARTERVILLE, Ill. – The No. 20-ranked Vincennes University Trailblazers joined a growing group of schools fighting for eight at-large bids to the NJCAA Division I National tournament in Hutchinson, Kan. after falling 77-68 to No. 12 John A. Logan in the Central District Championship game Friday night.
The Volunteers jumped out to the early lead, gaining a 13-5 advantage. Vincennes would respond to narrow the margin to 23-20 midway through the first half, before Logan would expand the lead to double-digits just before the half.
A three-point basket at the buzzer gave the Vols a 39-26 lead at the break on their home floor.
The Vincennes offense got a jumpstart off the bench in the first half from sophomore forward Nigel Martin, who surpassed his previous career high of six points in the first half alone Friday night.
Martin went into the locker room with a team-high 12 points at the break.
The Trailblazers would come out of the halftime break looking to cut into the lead quickly, but Logan shut down any early comeback attempts, growing their lead to 15 points in the second half.
VU would cut the lead down to just five points late in the second half but could not completely take over momentum of the game as John A. Logan took the nine point win over Vincennes to claim the 2021 Central District Championship.
Nigel Martin came off the bench to lead the Blazers in scoring, dropping 24 points on the night hitting nine of 10 shots from the free throw line, while also leading the team with nine rebounds on the night.
Martin was followed by an impressive game from DJ Brewton, who finished with 17 points aided by a perfect eight of eight shooting from the free throw line. Brewton also helped run the Trailblazer offense, dishing out a team-high four assists.
Christian Wells also came off the bench to score in double-figures, finishing with 11 points, four rebounds and two assists on the night.
The Trailblazers fall to 17-6 on the season and now must wait to see if their name is called on Selection Sunday, this Sunday, April 11, during the NJCAA Division I Men's Basketball Selection Show at 7 p.m. eastern.
If VU receives and At-Large bid, it will be the ninth year in a row the Blazers have made the NJCAA National Tournament, which will set a new NJCAA record.
A bid would also send VU to the NJCAA tournament for the 36th time in program history, which would break our own record for most tournament appearances by a school.
The Selection Show will be livestreamed on the NJCAA Network.