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Vincennes University

No. 3 Trailblazers Handle Kaskaskia to Move to 18–0

No. 3 Trailblazers Handle Kaskaskia to Move to 18–0
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January 17, 2026

VINCENNES, Ind. — The No. 3 Vincennes University Men's Basketball team continued its unbeaten run Saturday afternoon, earning a 70–55 Region 24 victory over Kaskaskia College inside the P.E. Complex to improve to 18–0 overall and 5–0 in Region 24 play.

VU built separation gradually, taking a 29–24 lead into halftime before pulling away over the final 20 minutes. The Trailblazers outscored Kaskaskia 41–31 in the second half, leaning on defensive consistency and control of the interior to extend the margin and close out another conference win.

Following the game, NJCAA Hall of Fame Head Coach Todd Franklin, in his 16th season leading the Trailblazers, pointed to the grind of conference play and the importance of maintaining an edge despite continued success. "When you get into league play and you get about this point, it's what it is," Franklin said. "Everybody knows everybody, and it becomes a grind. When you've been winning, sometimes you don't push the edge the way you need to, and that's something we have to guard against."

Individually, sophomore guard Jalen Calloway led all scorers with 20 points to go along with four assists, while sophomore guard Dayton Williams followed with 18 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists, providing production on both ends. Freshman forward Lorenzo Malagnini added 15 points and 13 rebounds, including six offensive boards, anchoring the interior, while freshman guard Drae Vasser chipped in nine points and 10 assists to help control tempo.

Franklin highlighted Malagnini's impact as the game settled. "In the second half, Lorenzo went about his business," Franklin said. "We ran some actions to get him the ball where he's comfortable, and he finished plays. That's about locking in and doing the right things."

Overall, the difference came in efficiency around the basket and possession control. Despite shooting just 21.4 percent from three-point range, VU finished with 46 points in the paint compared to Kaskaskia's 30, while recording 23 assists on 30 made baskets, continuing to share the ball effectively against Kaskaskia's half-court defense. The Trailblazers generated 19 transition points while repeatedly creating quality looks through extended possessions.

Franklin noted that while the opportunities were there offensively, execution was uneven early. "To be honest with you, we just didn't put the ball in the basket," Franklin said. "We got the ball down around the basket — we just didn't finish. If we finish some of those early, it's probably a much different feel. Defensively, though, I thought we locked them down pretty good all night."

Defensively, Kaskaskia shot 41.5 percent from the field but finished the contest 0-for-4 from three-point range. The Trailblazers also turned 16 Kaskaskia turnovers into 17 points, consistently using defensive pressure to generate offense throughout the night.

With the win, VU remained perfect through 18 games and continued to build separation in the Region 24 standings. The Trailblazers will return to conference road play next, traveling to Olney Central College on Wednesday, Jan. 21, for an 8 p.m. ET tip.

Hear more from Coach Franklin by clicking here.

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