The SFU Clan Men’s Basketball Team fell to 1–13 on the season and 0–8 in GNAC Conference play with a 76–72 defeat to Oregon’s Concordia University Crusaders. The Clan started out by building a 21–14 lead on the strength of an 8–0 run. The run featured a low post bucket by Tyrell Lewin, followed by back to back three-pointers by JJ Pankratz and Hidde Vos.
Momentum quickly swung back to the Crusaders with back-to-back fast break baskets. The SFU offence then went cold, missing five straight three point attempts, but soon, Gibran Sewani provided a spark for the Clan with two quick layups in transition to give the team a 25–22 edge. In a wild close to the half, athletic Crusader Martin Drew went up and dunked an offensive rebound in one breathtaking motion. Sewani followed with an offensive rebound and put back on the final possession of the half. Next, Oshea Gairey drew a foul and converted the free throws to give SFU a 29–28 halftime lead.
After Thursday’s game, coach Virgil Hill emphasized that the Clan have struggled to match the intensity and execution of their opponents in the second half of close games. In this contest SFU played tough, determined, and energetic basketball, which produced a thrilling back and forth slugfest as the teams traded baskets in contentious fashion. SFU responded early with two baskets by Michael Harper and Oshea Gairey to build a 33–28 edge. The rest of the game saw four ties and seven lead changes.
Highlights during this incredible stretch of basketball included beautiful drives to the basket by Andrew Nicholson and Michael Harper, a low post layup by Tyrell Lewin, a clutch three point basket by Oshea Gairey and an offensive rebound and put back by JJ Pankratz, followed by a huge Pankratz blocked shot on the defensive end. With the Clan down 63–61 the Crusaders were called for an offensive foul with 4:07 remaining.
Unfortunately, SFU was unable to capitalize on the ensuing possession. Trailing 65–63 with 2:04 remaining, SFU was called for a charge on a very questionable call in which the defender appeared to not only be moving, but also in the restricted zone. Just seconds later, the Clan found themselves in their biggest deficit of the night, down 69–63. SFU, down 69–65, was called for another charge with under one minute remaining.
This was a backbreaking lost possession which resulted in a successful free throw for the other end. In the waning seconds, a Sewani dunk closed the gap to 74–72, but Concordia’s Riley Hawken coolly knocked down both free throws to put the game out of reach.
SFU played their best game of the season Saturday and even though they are stuck in a losing streak, the effort, will, and determination are there. The team’s leading scorers were Oshea Gairey with 22 points, Michael Harper with 15 points, and Gibran Sewani with 13 points.
The team is on the road for two games before a home date with Western Washington on Tuesday January 26.
