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Blinn College

Scoreboard

Anthony Isaac 2023-24
76
Navarro College NAVARRO
85
Winner Blinn College BLINN CO
Navarro College NAVARRO
76
Final
85
Blinn College BLINN CO
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Navarro College NAVARRO 36 40 76
Blinn College BLINN CO 37 48 85

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Isaac's move to center helps spark Blinn's Region XIV home win over Navarro

The Buccaneers are now 10-2 overall and 3-0 in the Region XIV South Zone

After more than three decades as a coach, Scott Schumacher proved Wednesday that he still has some tricks up his sleeve.

With his team needing a spark down low in the second half, Schumacher opted to move wing Anthony Isaac to center, and the freshman helped lead the Buccaneers to an 85-76 victory over Navarro College in a Region XIV tilt at the Kruse Center in Brenham, Texas.

Isaac — who measures in at 6'6 — was a regular at center in high school, but now could be considered undersized for the spot at the collegiate level. He looked every bit the part Wednesday as he registered a team-high 18 points — 11 in the second half — including a trio of offensive rebounds that he turned into putback buckets.

"Anthony played tremendously for us when we moved him down low," Schumacher said. "He never blinked an eye and just kept playing hard for us."

Leading just 37-36 at the half, Blinn (10-2, 3-0 Region XIV) surged to a 16-point advantage late in the game thanks to a flurry from Isaac. He tallied three free throws to put the Bucs ahead 12, and then scored on back-to-back putbacks. He later recovered his own miss and deposited it for a layup as the hosts' cushion jumped to 76-60 with 3:32 to go.

Anthony Isaac 2023-24
(Pictured: Blinn freshman wing Anthony Isaac scores on a layup during a game against Navarro College on Dec. 6, 2023)

After the Bulldogs pulled within nine late in the game, Isaac struck again with a layup off an assist from sophomore guard Jadin Johnson to push the lead back to double figures.

"Coach wanted me to fill a role," Isaac said. "He wanted me to make my presence felt, so I went down low and did what I do best, which is score the basketball."

Blinn also got big contributions from sophomore guards Patrick Neal and Nick Folk, who each scored 15 points. Nick tallied all of his points in the second half. Freshman shooting guard Reese Miller was also key in the victory with 14 points, including four 3-pointers.

In total, Blinn hit eight shots from long distance.

"Whenever we can hit 3s, it spreads the floor for players like Anthony, Dresean Knight, and Masiah Gilyard to get going in the paint," Reese said. "It feels like when we're hitting 3s, the basket stays wide open for our bigs."

Reese Miller 2023-24
(Pictured: Blinn freshman guard Reese Miller shoots a 3-pointer during a game against Navarro College on Dec. 6, 2023)

Additionally, the Bucs got a boost from some solid free throw shooting down the stretch, as they made 16 of 21 attempts from the line after the break.

Both teams entered the game with 2-0 region records, but it will be Blinn that will finish the fall semester in first place in its division. The Bucs are tied for first with Lee College in the Region XIV South Zone, while Navarro dropped into a two-way tie for second in the North.

Blinn's final game of 2023 when it hosts Strength 'N Motion for a non-conference bout at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9. Following the semester break, the Bucs resume their season with a road trip to No. 7 Trinity Valley Community College on Saturday, Jan. 6, in Athens, Texas.

Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 45 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
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