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Vincennes University

Trailblazers Fall in Second Round of NJCAA National Tournament

Trailblazers Fall in Second Round of NJCAA National Tournament
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March 24, 2026

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The No. 6 seed Vincennes University Men's Basketball team saw its season come to a close Tuesday night, falling to No. 11 seed Northwest Florida State College 76–62 in the second round of the NJCAA Division I National Championship at Hutchinson Sports Arena.

VU battled throughout the first half and briefly found rhythm midway through the period. The Trailblazers utilized a zone defense to fuel their offense, taking a 21–11 lead with just under eight minutes to play in the first half. Northwest Florida State responded with a decisive surge during the remainder of the half, relying on a series of three-point baskets to erase the deficit and take control, carrying a 32–26 advantage into halftime. The Raiders continued that momentum into the second half, shooting 54.8 percent from the field and extending the lead behind a balanced offensive attack.

The difference in the game came in efficiency and depth. Northwest Florida State shot 46.7 percent from the field and 43.5 percent from three-point range, including a strong second half, while also holding a 34–6 advantage in bench points. VU finished the night shooting respectable numbers of 40.0 percent overall and 35.0 percent from beyond the arc, but was unable to generate consistent offensive runs to close the gap. The Trailblazers held a slight edge in points in the paint (26–24) and points off turnovers (12–8), but were limited to just seven second-chance points compared to 17 for Northwest Florida State.

Individually, sophomore guard Dayton Williams led the Trailblazers with 27 points and nine rebounds, while sophomore guard Jalen Calloway added 17 points, four assists, and three rebounds. Redshirt freshman guard Drae Vasser contributed 12 points and four assists, and freshman forward Michael Ephraim provided a strong interior presence with 12 rebounds to go along with four points.

Despite the result, the Trailblazers capped a tremendously successful season, finishing the year 31–3 overall, capturing both the Region 24 Regular Season Championship and the Region 24 / Central District Tournament title, while making their 13th national tournament appearance in the last 14 seasons and continuing its tradition as one of the premier programs in NJCAA men's basketball.

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