Edobar picks up twenty-nine points, but Trojans spoil Kings home opener

Brent Forster - RDC

On Saturday evening, the RDC Kings hosted the SAIT Trojans and the home crowd was excited for the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Men's Basketball season to kick off at Red Deer College. After a close first quarter, SAIT rebounded well and eventually won 89-77.

The opening quarter was back and forth and not much separated the two teams. At the end of the first quarter, the Kings held a 22-21 edge. Levi Taylor, Murphy Bea and Gemie Muya-ntalaja scored 4 points each for SAIT. Omon Edobar and Dshawn Tyrell had 8 points for RDC.

SAIT grabbed a lead in the second quarter and built on it. At the half, the Trojans led 43-31. Over 2 quarters, Omon Edobar had 10 points for the Kings. Both Levi Taylor and Charlie Conner scored 9 points for SAIT by the half. 

In the third quarter, Omon Edobar's dunk pulled the Kings within 7 (54-61) but at the end of the quarter, the SAIT Trojans led 65-56. Edobar had an amazing quarter and picked up 17 points, 2 steals, 1 assist and 2 rebounds for RDC. Gemi Muya-ntalaja led the Trojans with 8 points. 

The Kings tried but couldn't close the gap in the fourth quarter. The Trojans eventually won 89-77. Derian Valdes added 9 points, 1 block, 2 assists and 4 rebounds for the Kings in the final quarter. Braiden Ousey was the Kings' leading rebounder with a game total of 13. Murphy Bea scored 10 points for SAIT in the quarter. Over 4 quarters, the Kings shot 36.3% from the field and connected on 16.7% from behind the three-point arc.

Omon Edobar was named the Kings player-of-the-game. The first-year guard from Calgary stacked up 29 points, 3 steals, 3 assists and 5 rebounds. Charlie Conner received the award for the Trojans and accumulated 21 points, 1 block, 6 steals, 4 assists and 12 rebounds. 

Kings Basketball Head Coach Clayton Pottinger noted rebounding as an area that fell short."SAIT has a great basketball team and it will always be a test, but playing a good team exposes our weaknesses and one of them tonight was our defensive rebounding. They got too many second chance opportunities," said Pottinger. "We can't give a team like that so many possessions right around the basket."

The Trojans had 26 offensive and 38 defensive rebounds on the night. The Kings picked up 22 offensive and 28 defensive boards.

"Our transition defence really let us down tonight too. We put up 77 points, which technically should be enough to win a game," said Pottinger. "I'd like to see us be more aggressive and get to the line more. We are a very young team and are still trying to figure some things out."

The Kings (1-1) will compete against the Briercrest College Clippers (0-2) in Saskatchewan on Friday, November 3 at 8:00 p.m.