HUSKIES EDGE LIONS BY ONE

HALIFAX (CIS) - The ninth-seeded Saskatchewan Huskies overcame a seven-point halftime deficit and managed to hold on until the end to upset the No. 8 York Lions 75-74 in the second first-round match-up at the 2006 Canadian Interuniversity Sport men's basketball Final 10 at the Metro Centre in Halifax.

Championship web site: http://www.cisport.ca/e/championships/m_basketball/2006

Making their first appearance at the nationals since 1988, when they lost to Western in the first round, the Huskies advance to Friday's quarter-finals where they will face a familiar opponent, the Canada West champion and top-seeded Victoria Vikes (8 p.m. Atlantic Time, The Score).

York will face Wilfrid Laurier in an all-OUA duel for ninth position Friday at 11 a.m. AT.

Trailing 36-29 after 20 minutes, Saskatchewan exploded for 46 points in the second half as all its top guns started firing after a mediocre start.

Third-year guard Kyle Grant of Moose Jaw, Sask. scored 18 points after the break to finish with a team-high 20 points, while two-time all-Canadian forward Andrew Spagrud of Saskatoon, also held to two points in the opening period, finished with 11 points and a Huskie-high seven rebounds.

Fifth-year senior Matthew Greenberg (15) of Regina and guard Rob Lovelace (13) of Saskatoon also scored in double digits for the 'Dogs.

\"We didn't play with any energy in the first half, I thought I was pretty lazy myself,\" said Grant, named player of the game for Saskatchewan. \"We had a good chat in the locker room and felt we had to suck it up if we were going to come back. We played much better in the second half.\"

\"I honestly don't know,\" replied Grant when asked if he knew when the last Huskies win at the nationals was. Saskatchewan won on the consolation side in 1988 following its early exit from medal contention.

York was ahead all along in the first period and held on to the lead in the first nine minutes of the second half.

Saskatchewan jump to its first lead when Grant scored on a lay-up to make it 50-49 Huskies with 11:09 left on the clock. Grant scored again moment later to make it 52-49, capping a 20-9 Saskatchewan run.

The Lions kept within striking distance after that point and managed to tie the game twice, at 59-59 and 61-61, but would never lead again. A number of Huskies misses at the free throw line in the final two minutes helped keep their OUA opponents in the game however.

With the Huskies leading 72-69 with 25 seconds left, Spagrud went 1-for-2 from the charity stripe, and York 6-foot-10 centre Jordan Froebel of Ancaster, Ont. made it a two-point affair (73-71) with a thunderous dunk.

It was Grant's turn to be sent to the free-throw line moments later and he too missed one of two, keeping the Lions to within three (74-71).

Fourth-year forward Dan Eves of Barrie, Ont. had a chance to tie the contest on York's next possession but his three-point attempt, his 15th of the night, refused to drop.

The Lions fouled Lovelace, who hit one of two from the line, and Eves hit his seventh three of the game at the buzzer in a lost cause to round out the scoring.

Froebel was named player of the game for York after tallying a 23-point, 10-rebound double-double. Eves led all scorers on the night with 24 points, including 21 on 7-for- 16 shooting from long distance.

Sophomore guard Tut Ruach of Toronto added 16 points in the losing effort.

Both teams shot well, Saskatchewan finishing at 50.9 percent, including 51.6 percent in the second half, while York ended up at 48.3. The rivals both grabbed 31 rebounds.

\"We know them really well, I expect a very close game,\" said eight-year Huskies head coach Greg Jockims about the upcoming quarter-final against top-ranked UVic. \"They lead the season series 2-0, they played us tough both times. They're a very good team.\"

STAT LEADERS

No. 9 Saskatchewan 29-46: 75
No. 8 York 36-38:74

Saskatchewan
Points - Kyle Grant ((20), Matthew Greenberg (15)
Rebounds - Andrew Spagrud (7)
Assists - Kyle Grant (3), Matthew Greenberg (3)
Minutes - Andrew Spagrud (35), Kyle Grant (34)

Player of the game: Kyle Grant

York
Points - Dan Eves (24), Jordan Foebel (23)
Rebounds - Jordan Froebel (10)
Assists - Tut Ruach (9)
Minutes - Tut Ruach (38), Dan Eves (37), Jordan Foebel (37)

Player of the game: Jordan Foebel

SEEDING, SCHEDULE & RESULTS (All times LOCAL / Atlantic Time)

1. Victoria Vikes
2. UBC Thunderbirds
3. Carleton Ravens
4. StFX X-Men
5. McMaster Marauders
6. UQAM Citadins
7. Cape Breton Capers
8. York Lions
9. Saskatchewan Huskies
10. Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks

Thursday, March 16
Game #1: Cape Breton 62, Wilfrid Laurier 53
Game #2: Saskatchewan 75, York 74

Friday, March 17
11:00 Consolation (9th place): Wilfrid Laurier (10) vs. York (8) 13:00 Quarter-final #1: UQAM (6) vs. Carleton (3)
15:00 Quarter-final #2: Cape Breton (7) vs. UBC (2)
18:00 Quarter-final #3: McMaster (5) vs. StFX (4)
20:00 Quarter-final #4: Saskatchewan (9) vs. Victoria (1) (Live on The Score)

Saturday, March 18
11:30 Consolation #1
13:30 Consolation #2
18:30 Semi-final #1 (Live on The Score)
21:00 Semi-final #2 (Live on The Score)

Sunday, March 19
13:00 Consolation final (5th place)
16:00 Championship final (Live on The Score)

- CIS -

(Source: Michel Belanger, CIS Communications Manager.)

(Photo: York's all-star guard Tut Ruach dials up from long distance in the Lions' 75-74 loss to the Saskatchewan Huskies Thursday in Halifax. Photo by Nick Pearce.)