January 3, 2019 / No. 2 Trailblazers shoot past Elizabethtown

VINCENNES, Ind. -- The No. 2 ranked Vincennes University men's basketball team dialed up long distance early and often Thursday night inside the P.E. Complex.

The Trailblazers tied the school record by connecting on 19 shots from 3-point land in a 98-42 rout of visiting Elizabethtown Community and Technical College.

VU also made 19 shots from 3-point range against the McKendree College JV team on Dec. 8, 2007.

“We had an open corner three almost every time down the floor,” Trailblazers coach Todd Franklin said. “But we still wanted to give our guys on the inside a touch, then when they kicked it back out, our guys were pretty much playing horse with the outside shot.”

No one benefited more from the 1-2-2 zone defense of ECTC than Kevin Kangu.

The sophomore paced the Trailblazers with a career-high 20 points by knocking down six 3-pointers.

After a slow start, VU (14-0) finished the first half with a 31-6 run over the final 11 minutes to take a commanding 48-20 lead.

It was the first game for the Trailblazers since a win at Lincoln Trail on Dec. 17.

“This is kind of what we thought it would be tonight after a long break,” Franklin said of the slow start. “But it is nice to have this game (and Saturday) to be able to knock off the rust before we jump back into district play.”

Freshman Colton Sandage added a career-best 15 points on 5-for-6 shooting from behind the arc.

Lony Francis, Jr., Craig Porter, Keith Clemons and Jayrese Williams all netted 12 points to give the Trailblazers six players in double figures.

Clemons dished out six assists, while Porter handed out five assists to go along with three steals and two blocked shots.

Williams, a redshirt freshman, made his Trailblazer debut in the win.

“It was great to have Jayrese out there,” Franklin said.

Williams made his first two shots from the field and finished the game 4-for-7 -- all from 3-point range.

VU shot 57 percent from the field (35 of 66) while limiting the Barons to 14-for-45 (31 percent) from the floor.

The Trailblazers entered the game leading all NJCAA Division I schools in scoring defense (58 points per game) and third in defensive shooting percentage (36 percent).

The Trailblazers defense forced ECTC into 30 turnovers and came away with 11 steals.

VU returns to the court Saturday against Indiana Elite Prep.

“Now we just want to come back out here on Saturday and play a little more sharp,” Franklin said.

Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside the P.E. Complex.

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VICKIE PUFFER, Communications Coordinator & Online Newsroom Manager
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MARCIA MARTINEZ, University Life Reporter & Sports Information Director
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VINCENNES UNIVERSITY, Department of University Relations, www.vinu.edu/newsroom