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Vincennes University

No. 10 Trailblazers Capture Region 24 Tournament Championship

No. 10 Trailblazers Capture Region 24 Tournament Championship
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March 13, 2026

INA, Ill. — The No. 10 Vincennes University Men's Basketball team claimed the NJCAA Region 24 / Central District Championship Friday night with a 71–70 victory over No. 2 seed and NJCAA John A. Logan College at Rend Lake College, completing the tournament run as the No. 1 seed and improving to 31–2 overall.

Friday night's championship marked the fifth time VU and Logan have met in the Region 24 title game. The Volunteers had won the previous four meetings — 105–98 in overtime in 2015, 78–67 in 2020, 77–68 in 2021, and 73–66 in the 2023 championship. Logan also entered the contest playing its best basketball of the season, riding a seven-game winning streak with just one loss since December 16 and receiving votes in the latest NJCAA Division I national poll.

The heavyweight championship matchup delivered the high-level atmosphere expected between two familiar rivals, with the game remaining tightly contested throughout. The teams entered halftime tied at 33–33, setting up a dramatic second half that ultimately came down to the final possession. Logan had a chance to win the game at the buzzer, but the Volunteers' final shot missed as time expired, sealing the one-point victory for the Trailblazers.

Head Coach Todd Franklin, in his 16th season leading the Trailblazers, said the championship game reflected the level of competition expected at this stage of the season, particularly in an environment that favored the Volunteers, as their campus is just a short drive from Rend Lake. "Great junior college basketball game and a big-time atmosphere," Franklin said. "Logan has been playing as well as anybody in the country during the second half of the season, so to come down here and beat a team like that says a lot about our group."

Franklin also pointed to the challenge of navigating the tournament environment while facing a strong opponent in what essentially served as a home contest for Logan. "Making those long trips back and forth during the week really puts a strain on your team," Franklin said. "I'm really proud of our guys for stepping up to that challenge and finding a way to win."

Offensively, the Trailblazers were powered by their veteran backcourt. Sophomore guard Jalen Calloway led the way with 27 points and eight rebounds, helping carry the offense during the first half. Redshirt freshman guard Drae Vasser followed with 21 points, including 3-of-6 shooting from three-point range and 8-of-9 from the free-throw line, while sophomore forward Prince Ojukwu pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds to go along with six points.

As a team, the Trailblazers controlled the rebounding battle 41–31 and generated 21 second-chance points, while also scoring 40 points in the paint to create consistent interior opportunities.

Franklin emphasized that the victory came through a collective effort. "It was really a team victory," Franklin said. "We had a lot of guys step up and make plays when we needed them."

The Trailblazers' success was further recognized with major postseason honors, as redshirt freshman guard Drae Vasser was named Region 24 Player of the Year, while sophomore guards Dayton Williams and Jalen Calloway earned All-Region 24 honors. Head Coach Todd Franklin was also named Region 24 Coach of the Year.

With the win, VU secured both the Region 24 Regular Season Championship and the Region 24 / Central District Tournament title, earning the league's automatic berth into the NJCAA National Championship Tournament. The Trailblazers will next travel to Hutchinson, Kansas, for the NJCAA National Championship, scheduled for March 21–28. The official tournament bracket will be released Monday, March 16, at which time VU will learn its seeding and first-round matchup.

The appearance marks the program's 13th trip to the national tournament in the past 14 seasons, continuing a run of sustained success for the Trailblazers on the national stage.

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