The Simon Fraser University men's basketball team showcased a new offence, and one that would not quit, last Friday night's exhibition game with the University of Idaho as the team scored 115 points against their Division I opponents.
The Clan lost 139-115 against the Vandals, but applied a pressing system that limited the home side in the first half, and demonstrated the amount of improvement the squad has gone through in the off-season leading up to exhibition play.
Simon Fraser took an early 14-10 lead which they extended to 30-23 thanks to accuracy from beyond-the-arc. But the Vandals battled back to tie the game 35-35 with eight minutes left in the first half.
The Clan quickly responded to the pressure with guard Sango Niang nailing a pair of three-pointers to boost SFU's momentum as the visitors took a run in the dying moments of the half to lead 70-64 as the buzzer rang.
Simon Fraser shot 50 percent from the floor in the first half, contributing to their early success and their quick offence and pressing system allowed them to score 33 points off turnovers to Idaho's 23 in the game.
In the second half, Idaho took an early run, leading the Clan 90-85 with 12 minutes remaining, before extending their lead 112-96 four minutes later. The Div. Vandals outmanned the Clan in the paint, scoring 52 points to SFU's 36 on the night.
The final score was a testament both to the Clan's new-found confidence and athleticism on offence, but also an indication of areas to improve upon as the regular season approaches, as SFU's limited rebounding held them back when their shots weren't falling.
Niang, a Great Northwest Athletic Conference pre-season all-star, did not struggle with missed shots, leading the Clan on the night with 27 points, 13 assists and only two turnovers. Newcomer Roderick Taylor-Evans added 24 points in his debut with Simon Fraser, while captain Justin Cole added 12 points and three steals and transfer Hidde Vos added 13 points to the Clan's campaign.
The Clan travel to UC Irvine on Nov. 8 for a 7 p.m. tip-off against the Anteaters before returning home Nov. 14 and 15 to host Northwest Indian College.
