STMU defeats SAIT

Calgary, AB - Saturday, Jan. 20: St. Mary's University Lightning 102 at SAIT Trojans 96

The SAIT Trojans men's basketball team lost a nailbiter to the St. Mary's University Lightning on Saturday, nearly completing a crazy fourth-quarter comeback, but falling short and losing by six.

St. Mary's now holds a 1.5-game lead on first place with a record of 13-2. The Trojans fell to 11-3 with the loss.

SAIT's two starting guards led the way. Marcus Masters finished with a team-high 26 points, while Geoffrey James added 23 and four rebounds.

But the Lightning's Brock Dewsbery could not be stopped, torching the Trojans for 37 points on 16-25 shooting. The rest of the team followed suit, shooting a lights-out 58% from the field and 42% from three.

The Trojans came out flat and the Lightning took advantage, gaining a 12-point lead after the first quarter that they would take into halftime.

They would extend the lead to 16 heading into the final 10 minutes.

In the final frame, the Trojans battled hard to make the comeback, outscoring St. Mary's by 10, and cutting the lead down to three with just under a minute left thanks to a clutch Marcus Masters three after a steal on the inbound.

But Caleb Jipp hit the dagger contested three with 30 seconds left to extend the lead to six, and St. Mary's hit all their clutch free throws to come away with the six-point win.

SAIT will face Medicine Hat this Thursday to try and get back in the win column, and St. Mary's will face off against Red Deer at home on Friday.

Players of the game:

SAIT:

St. Mary's: