Broncos overcome 20 point deficit to beat #1 seeded SAIT

On Friday evening at the Ralph Klein Center the Olds College Broncos (11-9) came back from a 20 point halftime deficit to take down the first place SAIT Trojans (15-5) 96-88.

Samuel Willis III and Paulo de Soto-Parante were instrumental in the Broncos comeback, scoring 24 and 22 points respectively in the win. Willis managed a triple-double in the win, adding 11 rebounds and 11 assists. 

Dylan Cline put on a shooting clinic in the first quarter for the Trojans, shooting 3-4 from the three-point line as the Trojans took a 24-18 lead into the second quarter.

While the Broncos got within four points, the Trojans would go on a late half surge on the strength of 10-16 three point shooting in the half to take a 59-39 lead into the second half.

Nicholas Molina led the Trojans with 14 first half points, making three three-pointers while teammate Gamie Muya-ntalaja trailed with 12.

The Broncos opened the third quarter on a 12-4 run as Abe Murray and Sam Willis III both made big three point shots for the Broncos to force a Trojans timeout and narrow the deficit to 12.

Willis continued his strong quarter, making three more baskets, the most important with two minutes left in the quarter to cut the Trojans lead to nine. The Trojans would end up taking a 77-66 lead into the fourth quarter.

Early in the fourth the Broncos brought the crowd to their feet as Linden Jackson nailed a three-pointer to cut the Trojans lead to just four, up 79-75.

A few minutes later Paulo de-Soto Parente made a three from way downtown to cut the lead to just one with five minutes remaining. Spencer Parrott would make a shot from in tight on the next possession to give the Broncos a one-point lead.

A few possessions later Parente would make another deep three pointer to give the Broncos an 89-86 lead with two minutes remaining. Jackson would make a lay-up a few possessions later to give the Broncos a 93-86 lead with under a minute on the clock.

From there the Broncos were able to make their free-throws and cruise to a 96-88 victory, completing the comeback effort. 

After shooting 10-16 in the first half from the three point line, the Trojans shot a combined 0-10 from beyond the arc in the second, as the Broncos dominated the one-on-one game down low leading to the victory.

The teams will play a rematch tomorrow evening at SAIT at 8 P.M. 

- Brendan Stasiewich, Olds College Broncos Sports Information