BRENHAM, Texas – T.J. Berry scored a game-high 23 points and Darrell Combs finished with 17, but it wasn’t enough to lift the Blinn Buccaneers past the San Jacinto Ravens Wednesday night at the Blinn P.E. Building, 85-80.
Blinn led 41-34 at halftime, but the Ravens immediately rallied in the second half to take control of the ballgame.
With 3:25 remaining, Berry hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 76-72, but the Ravens were able to hold on for the victory behind 21 points from Zach Lofton.
“We did not play with the same intensity in the second half that we did in the first half,” Blinn (11-12, 3-9 in Region XIV) coach Scott Schumacher said. “I think a lot of it was that Macari Brooks was our energy guy and he got in foul trouble quickly in the second half. That hurt our guard depth and they couldn’t play with as much zip.”
Brooks was limited to about three minutes in the second half.
Combs was especially strong in the second half after the Buccaneer coaching staff spoke to him at halftime about being more aggressive. Twelve of his 17 points came after halftime.
Berry scored seven consecutive points during one stretch late in the game.
“I thought he played aggressive,” Schumacher said. “T.J. has been a good player for us all year. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t enough tonight.”
Blinn had won two of its previous three games coming into the contest.
San Jacinto improved to 16-4 on the season and 7-4 in Region XIV. The Ravens received votes in the NJCAA poll released Tuesday but were just outside the top 25.
The Buccaneers play at Coastal Bend College at 6 p.m. Saturday.
For more information on Blinn basketball, visit www.buccaneersports.com.