By Troy Guthrie, Sports Information Director

Freshman J.P. Olukemi led VU with 23 points, including nine in overtime

November 12, 2008

CENTRALIA, IL – Vincennes clawed its way to overtime and then pulled away during the extra period on the way to an 85-75 win Tuesday night at Kaskaskia.

The Trailblazers outscored the Blue Knights 15-5 after being tied at 70 at the end of regulation. VU had been down as many as eight points in the second half.

Freshman J.P. Olukemi led VU with 23 points, including nine in overtime. Johnie Davis had 15 points, while DeAntre Jefferson scored 13 and Donald Stewart finished with 12.Ryan Harris led Kaskaskia with 19. Jordan Lee added 15 and Damien Williams had 12.

It was another slow start and a ragged first 15 minutes or so of play for the Trailblazers. It took two and a half minutes for VU to get on the board and both teams were sluggish early as they battled to a 7-7 tie midway through the first half.

VU endured 12-for-35 shooting, 3 turnovers and 11 personal fouls in the first half to lead 33-24 at halftime. Jefferson’s 11 points and Stewart’s pair of treys late in the half helped the Trailblazers pull out to a lead after being tied with the Blue Devils at 18 with five minutes remaining in the half.

Kaskaskia capitalized on three VU turnovers and three Trailblazer fouls early in the second half to get within four at 33-29 in the first 90 seconds after halftime. A 9-0 run to open the half launched the Blue Devils into a tie with VU at the 16:32 mark. The Trailblazers finally added to their halftime score on Davis’ free throw seconds later.

Kaskaskia outscored VU 17-5 in the first eight and a half minutes of the second half. But the Trailblazers hung close and Daimion Garrett’s trey gave VU the lead again at 45-43. Jefferson upped the lead with his first bucket of the half, but Kaskaskia’s Josh Daniels kept it close with a 3-pointer and, after a VU turnover, Harris’ trey put the Blue Devils back in front, 49-47 with just under nine minutes to go in regulation.

About two minutes later, Kaskaskia had stretched its advantage to eight at 59-51 but the Trailblazers climbed back to within three at 59-56 on Stewart’s free throw. John Freeman’s steal and breakaway dunk then tied it at 62 with 3:40 left. VU followed up a Blue Devils miscue with an Archie score to put the Trailblazers on the upswing of the pendulum, but Williams hit a 3-pointer to nudge Kaskaskia back in front, 65-64, with 2:40 to go.

VU called a timeout to diagram a play and Stewart drove to the hoop, scored and was fouled. His three-point play gave the Trailblazers a two-point lead with 33 seconds on the clock. Kaskaskia kept it tense when Brandon Grissette penetrated and hit a runner to tie it yet again with 11 ticks remaining. Davis’ 3-point shot from the corner was blocked to send
the game into overtime.

That’s when the tide turned completely to VU. The Trailblazers got the tip at the beginning of the extra period and Olukemi scored. Kaskaskia then coughed up the ball and Davis buried a big 3-pointer to begin the Trailblazers’ escape. With VU up 75-70, Williams missed a pair of free throws and the Blue Devils sent Freeman to the line. The sophomore hit one.

Kaskaskia’s troubles in overtime continued when the Blue Devils missed a pair of shots and Olukemi was fouled at the other end. Olukemi hit one of two from the line to stake VU to a 77-70 lead.

Archie got the ball back for the Trailblazers by drawing a charge from Lee with a little over one minute left. Olukemi wound up splitting another pair of free throws to make it 78-70. A short time later,
Olukemi was good on both shots from the line to seal it.

Trailblazers 85; Blue Devils 75 (OT)
Vincennes
Freeman 2-11 4-8 8; Jefferson 6-7 0-1 13; Archie 2-6 1-2 5; Olukemi 7-14
8-12 23; Stewart 4-6 2-3 12; Passley 0-7 1-2 1; Garrett 3-6 1-2 8; Davis
5-11 3-6 15; Henderson 0-0 0-0 0; Stallings 0-0 0-0 0; Sullivan 0-2 0-0 0;
Wyse 0-0 0-0 0; Conn-Baird 0-0 0-0 0; Trueblood 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 29-70
20-36 85.

Score by Periods        1st     2nd     OT     Total
Vincennes..................... 33       37      15      85
Kaskaskia..................... 24       46        5     75