MEN’S BASKETBALL: SAIT Trojans tame Lions in home opener

CALGARY, ALTA., (Nov. 2, 2018) — The SAIT Trojans men’s basketball team won Friday night. That’s about all head coach Marty Birky will concede.

The Trojans struggled defensively, but held on for the win, beating the visiting Ambrose University Lions 94-82 in their Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) battle Friday night at SAIT’s Campus Centre.

“There are no positives today,” Birky said sternly following the victory.

SAIT moves to 4-0 on the season. Ambrose falls for the first time this season, and now sit at 4-1.

Pushed for more about the game, Birky focused on his team’s effort on the defensive side of the ball.

“We have to improve defensively,” he said. “We showed today it’s only a matter of time before someone beats us.”

SAIT started the first quarter well, opening up a 10-2 lead at the 7:41 mark. However, the pesky Lions forced six turnovers the rest of the way to go on a 21-10 run to finish off the quarter.

That run by the Lions continued on into the second. A Jaden Green jumper midway through the quarter put the visitors up eight, 34-26.

It was then that the Trojans started to chip away at the lead. With three seconds left in the half, John Smith (4^th year, Lacey, Wash., Business Administration) hit a jumpshot of his own to give his Trojans back the lead, 42-41 going into the break.

A fired up Trojans team came back to the court following halftime and were led by the duo of Smith and Ian Tevis (5^th year, Kent, Wash., Office Professional). The pair combined for 22 points, as the Trojans extended their lead from one at the break to 11.

Smith led all scorers with 30 points, while Tevis added 25 of his own.

Rookie post Rahsaan Chambers (1^st year, Toronto, Ont., Office Professional) had a big night, scoring 16 points and hauling down 12 rebounds.

In the fourth, the teams traded baskets, but SAIT was able to do enough to hold on for the win.

Isaac Gray led the Lions with 23 points.

The Trojans return to the court next weekend when they welcome Red Deer College on Friday night, and Lethbridge College the next. Both games are set for 8pm starts.