No. 1 Trailblazers Roll Pellissippi State, Move to 9-0

VINCENNES, Ind. — The No. 1 ranked Vincennes University Men's Basketball team rolled past Pellissippi State Community College Tuesday night, 89-60, inside the P.E. Complex to improve to 9-0 and close November undefeated.

The Trailblazers backed up their No. 1 national ranking with offensive firepower and efficiency, setting the tone immediately using spacing, pace, and selfless play to build a 44-28 halftime advantage and never look back. As a team, VU shot 51.6% from the floor and an electric 55.6% clip from 3-point range (10-for-18). VU scored 38 points in the paint, while assisting on 23 of its 32 made field goals on the night.

The offense flowed through four Trailblazers who reached double figures in scoring, led by sophomore guard Jaloni Johnson, who poured in 18 points on 6-of-6 shooting from deep in a sizzling first-half barrage. Sophomore guard Drae Vasser was efficient and composed, finishing 6-for-8 from the floor and 2-for-4 from beyond the arc for 15 points, while dishing out eight assists against just one turnover, and adding five rebounds and three steals in a true floor-general performance. Freshman guard Alex Montes added 15 points, while sophomore guard Jalen Calloway delivered 10 points on 5-for-9 shooting.

Hall of Fame Head Coach Todd Franklin, now in his 16th season at VU, pointed to Johnson's efficiency from distance as a reflection of the shot quality built into VU's offensive framework. "Jelani was unconscious in the first half," Franklin said. "They were all good shots. They were all shots we wanted him taking."

On the defensive end, VU suffocated Pellissippi State's rhythm, holding the Panthers to 36.4% shooting from the floor, while producing 14 points off forced turnovers, converting defensive stops into momentum-changing offense. The Trailblazers dominated the glass by a 50–24 margin, conceding only 6 second-chance points all night. "People tell me who they are when they step on the floor — you either impact winning or you watch," Franklin said, reinforcing the program's standard, before adding, "We became better when we subbed. That's what separates good teams from title teams."

Franklin praised the result on the night while reinforcing the standard his team is pursuing. "It's better than losing, that's for sure — but we've got work to do," Franklin said postgame. "The team that wins the national championship is going to come close to putting 40 minutes of their best stuff out there. That's the challenge we have right now — sustaining throughout the entire time."

The No. 1 Trailblazers will take a short break for the Thanksgiving holiday before returning to action Wednesday, December 3 at 7:00 p.m. EST, hosting NJCAA Division II No. 9 Henry Ford College inside the P.E. Complex. "Henry Ford is talented, they play fast, and they attack with confidence," Franklin said. "We'll have to match their pace, take care of the ball, and compete through every possession."

Hear more from Coach Franklin by clicking here.

Join the Journey

As always, fans can keep up with the Vincennes University Men's Basketball squad all year long through a number of ways:

• X (formerly Twitter): @VUTrailblazers | @VincennesMBB
• Facebook: Vincennes University Athletics
• Instagram: @VincennesUTrailblazers
• Youtube (live & on demand content): BlazerVision
• Website: https://govutrailblazers.com