Men's Basketball Weekend Recap | November 27, 2017
The Lakeland Rustlers swept the Augustana Vikings in their final weekend of games before the semester break. The Rustlers beat the Vikings 82-75 Friday night in Lloydminster and followed it up with an 81-73 victory in Camrose Saturday night.
Friday night, the Rustlers defeated the Vikings 82-75 in Lloydminster. The Vikings got out to a quick start, opening up a 9-2 lead. The Rustlers responded with a 13-0 run to take the lead with 4 minutes left in the quarter. The Vikings outscored the Rustlers 13-2 in the final 4 minutes of the first quarter, giving them a 22-19 lead after one. The teams traded baskets to start the second quarter before the Vikings opened up an 11 point lead. The Rustlers were able to hit two 3-pointers in the final minute of the first half to cut Augustana's lead to 42-37.
The teams went back and forth for the third quarter, trading baskets for much of it. After three quarters the Rustlers led 54-53. The Rustlers increased their lead to 8 to start the fourth quarter before the Vikings cut it to 3. The Vikings fought hard to take the lead back, but the Rustlers responded every time the Vikings scored, coming away with the 82-75 win.
Player of the Game for the Rustlers was #8, Lual Ateam, with 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Fourth year forward Prentice Gardner added 19 points, five rebounds and three assists and third year forward Artavis Holiday had 15 points and 14 rebounds for the Rustlers.
The Rustlers defeated the Vikings 81-73 in another close game Saturday night in Camrose. The Rustlers came out quick, scoring on the first possession of the game. The Rustlers built a 10-5 lead four minutes into the quarter, but let the Vikings cut the lead to 12-11 as the Rustlers settled for 3-pointers that weren't falling. The Rustlers tried to extend their lead, but the Vikings responded, tying the score at 17 after the first quarter. The teams traded baskets to start the second quarter, with the lead changing several times. The Vikings went on a 10-0 run midway through the quarter, building an eight-point lead, while the Rustlers went nearly five minutes without scoring. At the half, the Vikings led 37-31.
In the third quarter, the Rustlers were able to cut the Vikings lead to two points thanks to third year guard Ricardo Joseph and second year guard Brandon Isaac each scoring four points in the opening minutes of the quarter. The Vikings rebuilt a seven-point lead with just over three minutes left in the quarter, but the Rustlers fought back and tied the score at 54 after three. The Rustlers were able to score early and often in the fourth quarter, putting up 27 points in the period. The Rustlers took a 65-58 lead three minutes into the quarter and didn't look back. The Vikings cut the lead to four, but couldn't get any closer, as the Rustlers put their foot down and took control of the game. The Rustlers would lead by as many as 13 in the quarter before coming away with the 81-73 win.
The Rustlers were led by Player of the Game Holiday with 21 points, seven rebounds, an assist and a steal. Gardner added 15 points, seven rebounds, three steals, an assist and a block for the Rustlers.
Rustlers Head Coach Sheray Thomas was pleased with the two wins, but sees areas for improvement, as the Rustlers had leads in both games, but allowed the Vikings to stick around and keep the game close.
"I am a little concerned with the way we get leads and then let teams back in," Thomas said, "it was the way we lost a couple of game. This weekend we played at Augustana's place in the first half and our pace in the second half. No one plays perfect basketball, but we are still working towards playing at our pace for the full 40 minutes."
The Rustlers head into the semester break with a 9-3 record. The team returns to the court January 19th and 20th as they head to Fort McMurray to take on the Keyano Huskies. The Rustlers next home games are January 26th and 27th versus the Grande Prairie Wolves.