Malia Pinder, Staff Writer
The Saint Martin’s men’s basketball team started their season against some challenging exhibition competition at Oregon State University. The loss was heartbreaking, losing by a three-point buzzer-beater. They played a redemption game at Lewis & Clark the next day, winning by 12. After two regular-season games in San Marcos, Calif., the Saints went into their home-opener on Nov. 17 with a 1-1 record.
The team this season looks a lot different from last season’s roster. The Saints got six transfers and three first-year students. Kyle Greeley and Jaden Nielsen-Skinner both transferred from Portland State, Christian Haffner transferred from Des Moines Area Community College, Goy Wang is a transfer from Trinidad State Junior College, Veljko Illic transferred from Utah State Eastern, and Brett Reed transferred from Chaminade. With the nine new guys, the Saints hope to elevate their program and have a winning season. With a brand-new roster, one may think there might be some growing pains, but so far, the team has looked like they have been playing together for years.
In case you have not had the experience of a home game, I highly recommend going. They’re intense, high-energy, and exciting to watch. This game did not disappoint, and the student section was full of fans ready for the first home game of the season. The Saints took on the Warner Pacific Knights from Portland, Ore. Both teams came out strong to start the game, and Warner Pacific held the lead for the first part of the first half. The score was back and forth and so was possession, neither team getting too big of a lead. The tide seemed to change after a three-point shot by Haffner put the Saints up by four around the twelfth minute. The Saints held onto this lead for the rest of the first half, only allowing ten more points after that while gaining 13.
Halftime came and went, and they only seemed to be sharper as the game went on. While they missed a few shots, that did not cost the Saints and they held the lead for the entire second half. The whole pavilion went absolutely insane when Marky Adams, a First Team selection from the Pre-Season Coaches’ Poll, rebounded a jumper from Neilsen-Skinner and dunked the ball to score the 98 and 99 points of the game for the Saints. That solidified the win for the Saints, and it could not have been a more exciting end. The final score was 99-81.
The leaders for the night were Reed with 20 points, Haffner with 16, and Greeley with 15 points. Three other Saints joined them with double-digit days. Greeley also had a team-high eight rebounds and made three three-point shots. Tyke Thompson and Haffer joined Greeley with four three-point shots apiece. The athleticism and skill displayed by this 2021 roster were evident, and they should be a force to be reckoned with in the GNAC this season despite their Pre-Season Ranking at ninth.
The men’s basketball team is back in action in California on Nov. 24 when they take on Cal State East Bay. They play two more games in California before coming back to Lacey for a six-game homestand. They will play top-ranked GNAC teams on Dec. 2 and 4 as part of that homestand, so be sure to pack the pav and support your Saints.
The Belltower 