October 20th, 2024
WELLAND, ON: The Niagara Knights men's basketball team suffered their first loss of the season to west division rival Humber Hawks on Sunday afternoon at the Simplii Financial Athletic Centre, with the final score being 81-62.
The team struggled to find their footing in the 1st quarter, managing only 6 points to Humber's 21 after the Hawks started the game with a 9-0 run.
The second quarter got off to a slower start, but the team's momentum shifted behind Raheem Dennis' leadership, scoring 14 points by the end of the first half.
In the third quarter, Skylar Samuel, a third-year wing from Douglasville, Georgia, impressed with 7 points, a steal, and a block to help keep the momentum going. Meanwhile, fifth-year guard Khayden Stewart consistently contributed, recording 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks. However, the Knights' efforts fell short, concluding the third quarter with a 55-48 deficit.
Riley Bleich's impactful fourth-quarter performance featured 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks, substantially aiding Raheem Dennis and Skylar Samuel in reaching points totals of 17 and 18 points respectively; however, the Knights' valiant efforts ultimately ended in defeat.
When asked about the team's performance, head coach Lequan Hylton shared his thoughts: "Today was definitely a good learning experience. It is still really early in the season, and we know what we have to work on to be better".
The Knights will turn their focus to prepare for their next game when they will travel to play the Conestoga Condors on Friday, October 25th. Tipoff is scheduled for 8pm at the Conestoga Student Recreation Center in Kitchener.
