SAIT beats Keyano in close semi final match

In a rematch of last year's ACAC Championship finals, the SAIT Trojans faced the once again undefeated Keyano College Huskies to advance to the tournament final.

            The Huskies came out on top with the early lead, going ahead 15-7 midway through the first. Neither team really impressed offensively as the first quarter came to a close with the Huskies leading 20-11 after SAIT only managed to score 4 points over the final 5:28 of the quarter.

            The tides shifted in the second with SAIT finding their offensive rhythm. Late in the quarter, ACAC South Player of the Year Marcus Masters scored 7 straight to cap off a 12-0 Trojans run to flip a 7-point deficit into a 5-point advantage. Masters scored the Trojans' final 12 points of the quarter en route to a 35-31 lead heading into the break.

            In the third, the game went back to being a defensive slugfest with neither team able to put together sustained offensive pressure. Late in the quarter, the Huskies were able to put together an 8-2 run to take their first lead of the second half after a three by Omeechi Williams. A Huskies three-point play in the closing seconds gave them a 49-47 advantage going into the final frame.

            Going into a nail-biter fourth quarter the Huskies continued to pressure the Trojans, growing their lead to 9 at the five-minute mark. Having only given up 6 points so far in the quarter they were looking good to close it out. But back-to-back threes from Charlie Conner swiftly cut into their lead, and another jumper from Conner tied it all up with just 24 seconds to play. Sean-Michael Clancy responded with two points of his own to regain the lead, but a three from Marcus Masters with 8 seconds left gave the Trojans back the lead for good as Kuol Kuol knocked down his free throws to close out the game 71-68.

            With the win, SAIT continues their quest for a sixth straight conference title.