Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer
Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference "To be Canada's premiere collegiate athletic conference by developing and inspiring leadership through excellence in academics, sport and citizenship"
Posted: Feb 04, 2023

SAIT Rides Masters’ Big Game to Win Over Clippers

Box Score
Game Leaders
SAIT
Pts: Marcus Masters - 29
Reb: Marcus Masters - 10
Ast: Wyatt Haux - 4
BC
Pts: 2 Players (#4, #8) - 18
Reb: Zach Martens - 11
Ast: Riley Seaborn - 3
Team Stats
Full stats

by Jeff Misener

The Briercrest Clippers (2-15) completed their ACAC South Division schedule with a tilt against the SAIT Trojans (9-7) on Saturday. The Trojans still have a tough road ahead of them as they wrestle for a playoff spot, and Friday's action against Briercrest showed that the Clippers are no pushover, especially in the friendly confines of their home gym.

SAIT forged a quick advantage after the opening tip, but Briercrest veteran Brolin Simes netted a pair of triples as the hosts clawed away at the deficit. A Lual Piok trey, a euro step from Clippers' Kaedyn Banilevic, and a drive in traffic by Simes kept Briercrest close. After ten minutes, SAIT held a 27-22 edge.

Out of the break, SAIT veteran Marcus Masters floated to the rim for two before Clippers' Danny Mullens found a wide open Banilevic on a backdoor opportunity. SAIT took fast break opportunities when they became available, but their preferred option was to control the clock and rumble to the rim. With Marc-Denault Gabriel leading the attack, SAIT executed its offensive sets with great patience and surged to a 54-36 lead.

After Banilevic hit the bench with his fourth foul, Masters splashed a three and squeezed through traffic for two. Although Briercrest found early offense at the rim, SAIT resisted the urge to make the game a track meet and calmly controlled the tempo. Masters converted a four-point play at the buzzer, and the visitors forged a 73-48 advantage.

Briercrest created open looks through big man Zach Martens, with Simes and Piok hitting threes, but SAIT countered on the inside. The Trojans turned the closing minutes over to the bench, and Simes and Piok continued to knock down shots from downtown, but SAIT easily closed out the contest, 90-69.

Player of the Game for the visiting SAIT Trojans was Wyatt Haux, who registered 10 points, four assists, and four boards. Marcus Masters topped all scorers with 29 points and 10 boards, while Marc-Denault Gabriel poured in 20. Briercrest forward Lual Piok scored 18 points and added five boards to earn the accolade. Riley Seaborn chipped in 18 points, and Brolin Simes added 16.

Briercrest's remaining games are against playoff-bound squads in the North Division. SAIT concludes their schedule against Concordia, King's, NAIT, and Northwestern Polytechnic.