SAIT bounces Red Deer College

January 13, 2019

CALGARY, ALTA., (Jan. 12, 2019) — One night after an exciting and emotional victory, the SAIT Trojans men's basketball team won in a more-quiet fashion.

 

The Trojans welcomed the Red Deer College Kings to the Campus Centre on Saturday night, and handed them an 87-72 loss in their Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) battle. The win comes after SAIT needed a last-second three-pointer to beat the Kings on their home floor, 102-99, on Friday night.

 

"The biggest thing for us this weekend was to get our feet under us after such a long break," said Trojans guard Nick Molina (5th year, Calgary, Business Administration). "We expected to be rusty last night, but today we focused up and had a better energy about us. That played a big role in today's win."

 

SAIT, ranked No. 1 in the nation by the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), moves to a perfect 12-0 on the season. Red Deer falls to 5-7.

 

After a tightly-contested first quarter, SAIT went off on both sides of the ball in the second quarter, scoring 28 points while holding the Kings to just 12 to take a 46-29 lead into the break.

 

John Smith (4th year, Lacey, Wash., Business Administration) scored 12 of his team-high 22 points in the second quarter.

 

"We had good energy in the first, but it wasn't translating into points," Molina added. "We just stuck with it, because our team feeds off of energy both on the court and from our bench. We knew it was only a matter of time."

 

After halftime, it was Charlie Conner's (2nd year, Lacey, Wash., Business Administration) turn to take over.

 

In the second half alone, the underrated guard scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds. He finished the contest with 20 points and 12 rebounds.

 

Ian Tevis (5th year, Kent, Wash., Office Professional), a former Kings player now suiting up for SAIT, had another big night against his former team, recording 21 points and eight steals. On Friday, the veteran guard scored 29 points.

 

Spencer Klassen had a big night for the Kings, scoring 33 points in the losing effort.

 

SAIT will return to action next weekend for just one game against the host Lethbridge College Kodiaks on Friday, Jan. 18