The Simon Fraser University men's basketball team was beaten 80-60 by the Saint Martin's University Saints on Seniors night.
"As far as effort, I'm happy with them," said Clan head coach James Blake. "I wish the ball would go in the hole a little more, but we're better then we seem on paper. It will get better and if the guys keep bringing energy and execution, success will come."
In their final career home game with the Clan, graduating seniors Anto Olah, Matt Raivio and Tallon Milne were honoured in a ceremony before the game.
Olah led the Clan, playing 36 minutes, while scoring 19 points and grabbing seven rebounds. Raivio followed, adding 10 points in his 32 minutes of play.
"I love it at SFU," said Olah. "The people here are good and the school is great. It's tough as a student-athlete but we manage. It's been a good season and best of luck to the returning players both on the court and in the school years they have left."
Saint's forward Roger O'Neill topped all players, earning 24 points. Rei Jensen gave 13 points to the effort, while Eric Taylor and Will Bond chipped in 11 each.
The Clan's toughest battle was shutting down SMU's outside game as the Saints shot 58 percent from three-point range, while SFU shot only 21 percent.
It was a defensive game early on, as each team was held scoreless for the first four possessions of play.
Four minutes into the game, the Clan got their first points on a tip-in from John Bantock, tying the score at two points apiece.
Saint Martin's then used a 13-3 run to build a 10-point lead as the visitors led 15-5 with 13:07 to play in the half.
SMU expanded that lead to as much as 13 pointsd throughout the first half, and by the break held an 11-point lead over the Clan at 41-30.
Simon Fraser returned to the court for the second half with renewed energy.
With 15:53 remaining in the game, a three-point play from Taylor Dunn brought the home team within eight of the Saints at 46-38.
Despite the effort, including grabbing 34 rebounds to SMU's 33, the Clan were not able to come back and could not answer Saint's strong three-point shooting.
The loss drops SFU's record to 1-14 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and 6-17 overall.
The team is in Alaska this weekend.
