No. 1 Trailblazers Close Out 2025 with Region Win Over Lincoln Trail

VINCENNES, Ind. — The No. 1 Vincennes University Men's Basketball team closed out the 2025 calendar year with a convincing 77–59 victory over Lincoln Trail College on Saturday afternoon inside the P.E. Complex, improving to 13–0 overall and 2–0 in Region 24 play.

VU set the tone early and never relinquished control, building a 42–37 halftime advantage before tightening the screws defensively in the second half. The Trailblazers held Lincoln Trail to just 22 points after the break, limiting the Lakers to 40.4 percent shooting for the game and 21.4 percent from three-point range.

"I thought our second-half defense was much better than the first," said NJCAA Hall of Fame Head Coach Todd Franklin, now in his 16th season leading the Trailblazers. "We had been dealing with finals all week and didn't have our best snap early, but once we settled in, our guys were determined not to let things slip."

Offensively, VU shot 47.7 percent from the floor and knocked down eight three-pointers at a 42.1 percent clip, while continuing to generate production through effort plays. The Trailblazers scored 38 points in the paint, 11 points off Lincoln Trail miscues, and added seven second-chance points by extending possessions on the offensive glass, allowing them to steadily stretch the margin throughout the second half.

Sophomore guard Dayton Williams led a balanced scoring effort with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists, providing a steady finishing presence and facilitating offense from multiple spots on the floor. Sophomore guard Jalen Calloway followed with 16 points, seven rebounds, and three assists, while freshman guard Drae Vasser chipped in 11 points, five rebounds, and seven assists, helping stabilize the offense during key stretches. Freshman forward Jevon Guess added 13 points on a 6-11 effort from the field off the bench, giving VU another scoring option as the Trailblazers continued to rotate bodies and maintain pressure.

"We were fighting through some things and didn't have our A-plus effort today," Franklin said. "But that's part of the season. Our guys dug down, stayed connected, and figured out a way to win. If we're going to keep growing, that's what it has to look like."

The win marked VU's first home Region 24 contest of the season and capped an undefeated first semester for the Trailblazers, who will likely enter the holiday break ranked No. 1 in the nation for the fifth consecutive week once the final 2025 poll is released on Monday.

Vincennes will now break for the holidays before returning to action at the Columbia State Classic in Columbia, Tennessee. The Trailblazers will face Roane State Community College on Friday, January 2 at 5 p.m. ET, followed by a rematch with Columbia State Community College on Saturday, January 3 at 1 p.m. ET. The Trailblazers defeated Columbia State back on November 1 in VU's Kiwanis Classic 81-68.

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