Trojans go back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back

CALGARY, ALTA., (March 12, 2022) - The more things change, the more they stay the same.

After winning four straight Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) titles before the pandemic hit, the SAIT Trojans men's basketball team picked up where they left off two years ago and won their fifth straight title Saturday night in a narrow 91-88 decision over the Keyano College Huskies at SAIT's Campus Centre.

"That is one of the toughest teams I have ever faced," said Trojans captain Charlie Conner about the Huskies, who went 16-0 in the regular season and then 2-0 in the playoff before losing Saturday night. "Hats off to their team because they played hard. I don't think there was a bigger swing than seven points the whole game. . . One thing I love about my team is when I put my head down, there are other guys pushing through and keeping me motivated. That's what I love about all of these guys and I am happy for all of them that we got this done tonight."

SAIT's five straight wins matches an ACAC record set by, well, the SAIT Trojans men's basketball team in the 1980's that won seven straight titles.

"I get asked what's so special about SAIT," Conner added. "It's the guys and what we instill during training camp - everybody out here are warriors so keep pushing."

While the Trojans did not have a perfect record going into the game, they did finish the year with a 14-2 record. Two of those wins in the last month came via overtime over St. Mary's University and via a 18-point fourth quarter comeback over the Lethbridge College Kodiaks. SAIT guard Amin Suleman credited those tough wins with how his team was able to come out as victors in what was an absolutely amazing game of basketball.

"Those two games really tested our team, and tested our team chemistry," said Suleman, who was named his team's Player of the Game after scoring 15 of his 18 points in the second half. "The fact that we were able to come out on top in those games gave us confidence that we were going to come out on top tonight. We knew it was going to be a dogfight, but we were ready for it."

The game started off fast with both teams trading punches early. SAIT's Marcus Masters and Keyano's Omeechi Williams each scored seven points in the opening quarter, and by the time it was over, the Huskies held a narrow 22-19 lead.

The second quarter saw SAIT go to their big man, Taliik Ross, and he made good on a pair of free throw and a pair of shots from in close to score six points and haul down four rebounds. By the time the halftime buzzer went, Ross had 10 points and eight rebounds and his Trojans had a 42-37 lead.

"I can go through our whole team, but you have to give a shoutout to Taliik Ross for dominating inside and his defensive presence in the first half," said Trojans head coach Marty Birky. "He came up big when we needed him to."

Keyano was not about to go away, however. The North Division powerhouse hung a 30 on the board in the third quarter - nine of which came from mid-range jumpshots from veteran Shaquille Bedminster - to take the lead. When the third quarter ended, it was now Keyano who was on top 67-63.

The fourth quarter featured fast-paced back and forth action that had the crowd on the edge of their seats. 

Suleman put the Trojans back on top with 6:23 left in the game when he hit a three-pointer to make the score 72-71 and SAIT never trailed again. 

Conner hit two massive free throws with 17 seconds left to extend their lead to 91-86, but Clancy came back down and scored easily to put his team down three.

Keyano was able to quickly get the ball back, but Clancy missed a three-pointer at the buzzer to end the game and send the Trojans bench into a frenzy.

Birky talked about the tough season they had this year and how his team stayed strong throughout it all. In October, former Trojan and close friend of the program John Smith was killed outside a nightclub defending a friend. Smith's first year at SAIT was the 2016-17 season - the first of a now five-peat.

"I have to recognize John Smith for all that he's done for this program," Birky stated. "He created a culture when he came on board and we haven't lost since."

The loss was hard on a lot of people in and around the team, but especially Conner, who Smith brought to SAIT. Conner shared tearful hugs with many of his teammates as they celebrated and talked about Smith afterwards.

"Since October, it's been a lot of ups and downs. . . To this day, every day, I think about him," said Conner. "I know he helped us win this game, and I know that for a fact because all day I have been hearing stuff that only John would say. Even in the fourth quarter, I was hearing it '(Charlie) you're fine. I don't care if you miss a thousand of them, keep pushing it. I got you.'"

When the Trojans won their fourth straight title back in the 2019-20 season, they had their trip to the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) National Championship at Humber College in Toronto cancelled due to Covid. Well, it's 2021-22, and the Trojans have a chance to make up for that as Humber will again host this season later on this month (March 24-27).

"I'm angry and I'm impatient," laughed Conner. "You never know what would have happened a couple of years ago, but we missed out on what we thought was a great opportunity for us at the time. Going back into it, I think we have just as good a chance as anyone again."

For Suleman, who joined SAIT after four years at the University of Prince Edward Island, going to nationals in his final year of eligibility is something he's looking forward to.

"Nationals is in Toronto and I am from Toronto," he said with a smile. "When Marty called me in the summer, I told him that we were going to five-peat and we're going to Toronto. I didn't come here not to be able to go home and play there. I didn't even go back at Christmas. I wanted my next trip back to be at Nationals in March and that's what's going to happen."