Esports 10/16/2024 11:23:00 PM

Blinn Overwatch cruises past North Dakota State College of Science for NJCAAe sweep

The Buccaneers are now 2-1 in the NJCAAe Central Conference

Esports 10/16/2024 11:23:00 PM

Blinn Overwatch cruises past North Dakota State College of Science for NJCAAe sweep

The Buccaneers are now 2-1 in the NJCAAe Central Conference

The Blinn College esports team picked up a dominant Overwatch victory over North Dakota State College of Science on Wednesday.

The Buccaneers collected a 3-0 NJCAA Esports win over the Wildcats behind the play of Kyoung Lee, Haluk Tanriseven, Matthew Hutchings, Donnivan Straight, and Dhruv Pandrangi.

Overwatch is a team-based, first-person-shooter in which players select heroes with unique abilities and work together to complete objectives across multiple map modes. Each team can strategically choose its maps based on team strengths and opponent weaknesses.

Each of the three rounds Wednesday included different win conditions based on the following modes:

Control: Teams fight to capture and hold a single point. The first team to reach 100% control wins two rounds in a best-of-three format, where the loser of each round picks the next map.
Escort: The attacking team moves a payload to its destination while defenders try to stop them. The payload moves when attackers are near it, and the attackers aim to complete the route before time runs out.
Hybrid: Teams capture a point and then escort a payload. The match is typically one round for attackers, who must secure the point first before moving the payload.
Push: Teams battle to control a robot and push it toward the opponent's side. The first team to push it farther than their opponents wins, with the loser picking the next map.
Clash: Teams capture consecutive points, with the first team to a set number of points winning.

Blinn, ranked 13th by the Overwatch Collegiate Rankings Association, is now 2-1 in the Central Conference.

"In a dominant display, we secured a decisive victory, and from start to finish we showcased our team-play skills and adaptability, leaving our opponents struggling to keep up," Blinn assistant coach and Overwatch manager Kyle Murto said. "Our coordination was on point, with every play executed flawlessly, and our aggressive approach kept NDSCS on its back foot the entire match."

The Bucs are in the midst of another strong start to their NJCAAe season and are hoping to return to the national championship match after a series of near misses against rival Bryant & Stratton College. Murto said performances like Blinn put forth Wednesday indicate his team could be ready to capture a coveted national title.

"It is clear that we are just a step above the rest of the competition in NJCAAe," Murto stated, "and we are once again looking to get back to the national championship match to face off against Bryant & Stratton, and this was another step towards that."

Blinn Overwatch will turn its attention to National Association of Collegiate Esports play when it faces Illinois State University at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 22.

Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 49 NJCAA national championships since 1987.

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Players Mentioned

Donnivan Straight: Sophomore; Overwatch

Haluk Tanriseven: Sophomore; Overwatch

Dhruv Pandrangi: Sophomore; Overwatch

Matthew Hutchings: Sophomore; Overwatch

Players Mentioned

Donnivan Straight
: Sophomore; Overwatch

Haluk Tanriseven
: Sophomore; Overwatch

Dhruv Pandrangi
: Sophomore; Overwatch

Matthew Hutchings
: Sophomore; Overwatch