Second-Half Surge Lifts No. 2 VU Past Shawnee

VINCENNES, Ind. — The No. 2 Vincennes University Men's Basketball team opened the second semester of Region 24 play with a decisive home victory Wednesday night, pulling away from Shawnee Community College for a 102–79 win inside the P.E. Complex. The Trailblazers improved to 16–0 overall and 3–0 in Region 24.

The game proved to be a tale of two halves, as Shawnee carried a 45–40 lead into halftime behind aggressive guard play and timely perimeter shooting. VU struggled defensively in the opening 20 minutes, allowing Shawnee to shoot 51.6 percent from the field.

After halftime, the Trailblazers delivered an impressive response. VU erupted for 62 second-half points, shooting a blistering 73.1 percent from the field and holding Shawnee to just 34 points over the final 20 minutes while tightening ball-screen coverage and controlling the paint.

Sophomore guard Dayton Williams powered the turnaround with a dominant performance, pouring in a career-high 32 points on 13-of-19 shooting, while adding nine rebounds, five assists, two blocks, and a steal. His presence in transition and ability to attack off set actions proved pivotal as VU seized control early in the second half. Alex Montes provided a major spark off the bench, scoring 19 points on 6-of-7 shooting and knocking down 4-of-5 from three, capitalizing on open looks created by Shawnee's defensive help.

Freshman guard Drae Vasser followed with 14 points and a game-high nine assists, helping steady the group during key stretches, while freshman forward Lorenzo Malagnini added 11 points and seven rebounds, including five offensive boards. Sophomore guard Prince Ojukwu finished with 11 points and six rebounds and sophomore guard Jalen Calloway contributed 11 points, six assists, and two rebounds as part of a balanced offensive effort that saw six Trailblazers place in double figures.

As a team, VU capitalized in the open floor, holding a 14–3 advantage in points in transition, and consistently attacked the interior for 40 points in the paint. The Trailblazers finished the night shooting 60.3 percent from the field and 55.6 percent from three while recording 29 assists on 38 made baskets, pairing offensive efficiency with improved second half defensive urgency to turn a five-point halftime deficit into a comfortable win.

Hall of Fame and 16th-year Head Coach Todd Franklin pointed to defensive accountability as the deciding factor in the outcome. He noted that no schematic changes were made at halftime, emphasizing instead the need for better effort and execution. "We didn't change anything," Franklin said. "We just had to get up and guard and guard the way we practice every day. I still don't know that we did it great, but we were better in the second half, and that's the difference."

Franklin also highlighted Williams' impact as a catalyst while stressing that the offensive output masked some lingering issues. "Dayton was big attacking," Franklin said. "We ran some actions to get him going, and he did a pretty good job with it. Offensively, we ended up with 102 points, but even in the first half when we had 40, we were sloppy. We missed free throws, had bad turnovers, and didn't guard anybody. That can't happen."

The veteran coach reiterated that the focus remains squarely on how the Trailblazers play, not who they play. "The tale of this game was how we played — first half versus second half," Franklin said. "Shawnee's got a nice team. They're quick, they can attack, and they played hard. But if we play the way we're supposed to play, guard the ball the way we practice, we give ourselves a really good chance to win. That's always going to be what we worry about."

VU will next return to Region 24 road play, traveling to Lake Land College on Wednesday, January 14 at 8 p.m. ET.

Hear more from Coach Franklin by clicking here.

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