Ivanovic the hero in win over Kings

CALGARY, ALTA., (Jan. 28, 2023) - Filip Ivanovic came up big for the SAIT Trojans.

The second-year guard hit a deep three-point shot with a second left to help his Trojans to an 84-83 victory over the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings Saturday night in an exciting Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) matchup played at the Jack Simpson Gymnasium.

Ivanovic's heroics salvages a weekend split with the Kings, who came out on top in the Friday night game 84-75. SAIT now sits with an 8-7 record, while Red Deer falls to 9-7.

The game was tightly contested all the way through. While SAIT spread the scoring around, Red Deer relied heavily on Eduardo Crespo. And rightfully so as he gave the Trojans fits all night with his physicality and scoring touch, finishing the night with an amazing stat line of 28 points, 15 rebounds and six assists. Teammate Bernardo Moller added 16 as well.

SAIT was led by who else but Marcus Masters. The smooth-shooting guard struggled from the three-point line, but still managed a team-best 22 points. Three others scored in double digits, while another pair finished with nine - one of them being Ivanovic.

The teams traded the lead multiple times in the final minutes of the game before Red Deer seemingly took the lead for good after Crespo buried two free throws to go up 82-81 with 11 seconds left. SAIT came down the floor but could not score, resulting in them having to foul - putting Crespo on the line with just three seconds left. He made one of the two free throws before SAIT called timeout to advance the ball to half court.

Following the timeout, SAIT inbounded the ball to Ivanovic, who turned to the basket with no one near him. He pulled up immediately and made the basket, leaving 0.1 seconds left on the clock and shocking the loud Kings fans in attendance.

All Red Deer could do was inbound the ball while the buzzer immediately went to end the game.

Ivanovic and Crespo were named Players of the Game.