MacEwan Athletics 

EDMONTON – A nightmare start put the Griffins in a huge hole that they couldn't dig out of as they fell 81-36 to the cross-town rival Alberta Golden Bears in Canada West men's basketball action on Friday night at the Saville Centre.

MacEwan scored just four first quarter points, which gave Alberta a 20-point advantage in the first 10 minutes and then followed it up with just two second quarter points, staring at a 45-6 half-time deficit as a result.

"I think we were very nervous to start, and we played hesitantly," said MacEwan head coach Mike Connolly. "When you hesitate, it's too late."

With the result, Alberta improves to 5-4, while MacEwan drops to 0-9 on the season.

"We missed several easy opportunities to score early," said Connolly. "Then their defence fed off that and they jumped out. 

"Our guys continued to work and played, creating easier scoring opportunities. We only lost the second half by six, which is when we settled in and played."

Alberta had four players in double digits in scoring: Isaac Simon (13), Adam Paige (12), Logan Powell (11) and Brandon Meiklejohn (11).

Both Thai Haak and Matthew Osunde scored 10 points each to pace the Griffins. Connolly also singled out rookie big man Mawien Mondyhar, who logged 16 important minutes for the team off the bench.

"Mawien, the walk-on 6-foot-8 rookie, was our best player with the most complete game. He was defending, produced good offence and communication."

The Griffins will try to rebound in Saturday's rematch (7 p.m., Saville Centre, Canada West TV).