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     Basketball Club

Saskatoon, Sask. - The University of Saskatchewan Huskies started Saturday night's game against the University of Winnipeg Wesmen looking like they might give a repeat of their performance Friday night. But there would be no repeat of their 25-point victory over the University of Manitoba. Instead, Saskatchewan (14-14, 9-5 Canada West) managed to come away with an 86-76 victory in a heated battle that can only be described as bizarre.

"It was a very physical game," commented Saskatchewan head coach Greg Jockims. "Neither team was able to really get into any kind flow or rhythm offensively. But I was pleased with how we responded and executed down the stretch of a very tight game."

With the victory Saskatchewan remains one game behind Alberta (17-9, 10-4) for first place in the Central Division standings.

The Huskies opened the game with an 11-2 run, capped by an Andrew Spagrud three-pointer. But the Wesmen fought back, going on a 16-8 run of their own over the next five minutes to cut the lead to 19-18 with twelve minutes to play.

Chabot

Then with 10:48 remaining, Rejean Chabot was fouled on a drive to the hoop by Wesmen freshman Nick Lother. Wesmen star Erfan Nasajpour received two technical fouls and was ejected from the game, while the Wesmen were charged with another tech. Senior guard Kyle Grant converted all six technical free throws, starting a 13-1 Huskie run which saw them go up 38-19 with 9:52 to play in the first period after a pull-up jumper by Chabot.

Winnipeg outscored Saskatchewan 10-5 in the last four minutes of the half as Mike James came off the bench to score seven of those ten points. Saskatchewan led 48-39 at the break.

Wesmen forward Dan Shynkaruk tied the game at 58 on a jumper with 11:53 to play in the second half. A minute later he picked up his fourth foul and then received a technical foul as he was being subbed off the floor. Three minutes later, with the game tied at 62, Huskie fifth-year senior Sam Lamontagne picked up his fourth foul before being accessed a technical as he was being substituted.

But the bizarreness didn't end there. With 7:36 to play Chabot, who had just left the floor for the second time because of blood from two separate lacerations, was given a tech as he was on the Huskie bench receiving treatment. The Wesmen were up 67-64 after Matt Oplako hit the two free throws.

The Huskies came back though, going on an 11-0 run to take a 75-67 lead. After a layup by James cut the lead to six, Spagrud used his strength to convert a three-point play, putting the Huskies up 80-71 with 3:11 to play. Oplako drilled a three with 2:21 to go cutting the lead to six again, but that's as close as the Wesmen would get.

All told there were seven technical fouls in the game, and five players fouled out in addition to Nasajpour's early exit.

Spagrud, the nation's leading scorer, finished with game-highs of 28 points and 14 rebounds. He was 7-16 from the floor and 13-17 from the free throw line. Grant had 20 points and four assists, going 18-20 from the line. His 18 made free throws ties the school record.

Brudehl

Chabot, who received eight stitches after the game above his left eye and under his chin, finished with 16 points and four boards. Dan Brudehl, who scored three points, came off the bench late in the second half and sparked the Huskies with his energy, grabbing three boards and keeping at least three others alive that the Huskies eventually managed to corral.

James led the Wesmen with 15 points off the bench, going 6-7 from the field. Oplako had 14 points and five rebounds, while Shynkaruk finished with 12 points. Ivan Saric grabbed a team-high six boards for the Wesmen. Nasajpour had seven points and two assists.

The Huskies shot 42.9% from the floor for the game, while the Wesmen shot 48.3%. The Huskies were only 3-12 from downtown, while the Wesmen were 2-8. The Huskies were 41-59 from the free throw line, while the Wesmen were 18-26. The 59 free throw attempts by the Huskies set a school record.

Saskatchewan committed 22 turnovers on the night, while Winnipeg turned it over 16 times. Winnipeg outscored Saskatchewan 31-18 off of those turnovers. The battle on the boards was won by Saskatchewan, 38-33.

Saskatchewan travels to the west coast next weekend for two games. Friday night they will be in Langley to take on Trinity Western (11-12, 8-8) at 8:00 pm PST. Saturday they will be in Burnaby to face Simon Fraser (15-11, 8-8) , with tip-off scheduled for 6:15 pm PST.

Notes: The previous team record for free throw attempts in a game was 53 on January 9, 1988 vs. UBC. The Huskies team record for most free throws made is 43, set February 21, 1969 at Regina. The Huskies made 41 free throws tonight, second most all-time.

Dean Wiebe holds the Huskie record with 27 free throw attempts (October 22, 1993 vs. Brandon in Regina). Grant's 20 attempts at the line ties him with Sheldon Ryma (December 2, 1988 vs. UBC) for second most all-time. Wiebe and Ryma both made 18 free throws in the previously mentioned games.