Jefferson Hagen, MacEwan Athletics
-With files from Huskie Athletics
SASKATOON – For some, it's hard to see positives after a 36-point loss, but MacEwan Griffins men's basketball head coach Mike Connolly definitely had a glass half full outlook on Friday night.
Despite a 99-63 defeat to the Saskatchewan Huskies, Connolly had effusive praise for his squad.
"The score was not indicative of how we played," he said. "We competed and played. It was tied after the first quarter. We had a bad second quarter – we were competing, we just gave up some bad transition and offensive boards. That's the only way they hurt us.
"This was one of our hardest working games. We played well."
MacEwan fell to 0-3 on the Canada West men's basketball season, while Saskatchewan improved to 3-0, matching the program's best start to a season since 2013-14.
Emmanuel Akintunde matched his career-high of 24 points for the Huskies, adding 10 rebounds to record the double-double, while Noah Nickel added 11 points.
Deonte Doslov-Doctor led the Griffins with 16 points on 7-12 shooting while tacking on four rebounds. Abdullah Shittu was a standout for the team as well, adding seven points, two blocks and four rebounds.
"Even though Abdullah didn't score, he played probably his best game because he was working hard, he was rebounding," said Connolly. "He was getting good shots and they didn't fall. He didn't foul. He played great D. We're starting to get there.
"We have to keep it going tomorrow, but hopefully this is something we can build on."
The Griffins came out firing and put an early scare on the Huskies on their home floor, hopping out to a quick 7-2 lead, with Dustin Gatzki recording four of the seven points on the run for the visitors. However, Saskatchewan responded in the late going of the opening quarter, with the hosts going on a 10-point run of their own off the backs of four layups. Doslov-Doctor hit a three-pointer to tie the contest at 19-19 at the end of the first quarter.
The Huskies started to take control in the second, as they opened the frame with a 10-1 run off the backs of four points from both Alexander Dewar and Akintunde, to take a nine-point lead. A dominant second quarter saw Saskatchewan outscore the visitors 30-11, as they closed the frame on a 7-2 run to take a 49-30 lead into halftime.
Saskatchewan followed up their strong finish to the first half by getting right to work in the third quarter, hopping onto a 5-0 run to begin the frame. Much like the second quarter, the Huskies outplayed the visiting Griffins, outscoring them 26-10 in the third.
The Huskies went on a 13-point run, the largest of the game, midway through the fourth, with Cameron Wright, Robinson and Fisayo Moibi each connecting from three-point range during the run, which helped lead the hosts out to a 90-57 lead. However, despite outscoring the hosts in the fourth and finishing the contest on a 9-2 run of their own, the Griffins fell short on the night.
"Tomorrow we can look at some stuff they can correct technically because they're raising that level of work ethic and competitiveness, which is what we need," said Connolly. "We gave them fits, which was nice. Even when they were up, it was still difficult for them.
"It's a step in the right direction even though it might not seem like it."
Saskatchewan and MacEwan will battle in the second half of the back-to-back on Saturday (6 p.m. MT, Canada West TV presented by Co-op).
