Olds College's men's basketball team split a pair of games against the SAIT Trojans over the weekend.
The Broncos lost 72-69 on the road on Nov. 22.
The Ralph Klein Centre hosted the Trojans the night before, where first-year guard Kaleel Faiz's 27-point performance led the Broncos to a 93-91 victory.
Faiz was held to five points in the first half but exploded for 14 points in the third quarter before tacking on another eight in the fourth.
He finished the game on 10-of-23 shooting, while collecting three rebounds and an assist.
Five Broncos finished in double-digit scoring, including second-year guard Phillip Jalalpoor, who recorded 12 points, 13 assists and seven rebounds.
Third-year forward Giovanni Shettler also had a double-double, scoring 12 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.
The Trojans were led by 6-9 forward Shayne Stumpf, who finished with a game-high 29 points and 10 rebounds.
Faiz hails from Toronto, where his father played basketball at George Harvey Collegiate Institute.
His father also watches Broncos games from home and Faiz described him as one who never held back any critique of his game. That drove him to put the team on his back in the second half.
“Just the practices we did in the summer. Hard work — just put it together and go to work,” he said. “Even if I score 50, he'll criticize me no matter what, but he's always there for me. He has my back.”
The Broncos hold a 6-4 record and sit fourth in the ACAC South. Breaking ground for the basketball program at the school is a special experience for Faiz.
“It's amazing,” he said. “I didn't think I was going to come here with the teammates I had. Our coach scouted everyone from everywhere and (filled) every position so everybody could play their role and we get wins.”
