Trojans size too much to handle for Rattlers

CALGARY, ALTA., (Feb. 21, 2020) - When the shots from outside weren't connecting, the SAIT Trojans men's basketball team simply went inside.

The Trojans struggled from beyond the three-point line, but still were able to pull out a decisive 94-65 win over the visiting Medicine Hat College Rattlers in their Friday night Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) game played inside SAIT's Campus Centre.

"We were able to get a lot of guys in today, which was nice," said Trojans head coach Marty Birky. "Kind of a funky start where we weren't hitting any shots. We were able to settle in in the third and we went from there."

SAIT improves to 14-4 on the season, while Medicine Hat falls to 4-16.

The Trojans have received a lot of their scoring from beyond the three-point line this season, but on Friday night, they hit on just 4-of-21 shots from the arc.

"They weren't just rimming out. We were missing horribly," Birky added.

Luckily for the Trojans, the inside game was working.

The duo of Gemie Muya (2nd year, Toronto, Ont., Office Professional) and Talk Ross (3rd year, Orange Park, Fla., Business Administration) combined for an impressive 33 points and 31 rebounds.

Considering Medicine Hat as a team had just 27 rebounds, Birky was happy with what he saw from his two bigs.

"That was our focus all week. We have two monster rebounders, and they should be eating like this every night," he said.

Guards Charlie Conner (3rd year, Lacey, Wash., Business Administration) and Calvin Chambers (4th year, Memphis, Tenn., Business Administration) each scored 17 points in the win.

Kieron Burgess was Mr. Everything for the Rattlers, recording 25 points and 11 rebounds.

SAIT will close out the weekend Saturday night in Medicine Hat in an 8pm tip-off. With just three remaining games before the Trojans start their journey for a fourth-straight ACAC title, Birky knows exactly what he wants from his team.

"We just have to get into that playoff mentality," he said. "We have to approach each of these next three games like they could be our last, because in two weeks that's what the situation will be."