Bhatti leads late charge as BU tops MacEwan
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At times this season, it has felt like Sultan Bhatti is passing the torch and deferring to the Brandon University Bobcats’ standout rookies.
But with the team’s Canada West men’s basketball playoff lives on the line, the all-Canadian forward knew he had to take over.
Bhatti followed a three-point first half with 20 in the second, powering the Bobcats to a 100-89 comeback victory over the MacEwan Griffins (3-14) at the Healthy Living Centre on Friday.
Brandon’s Sultan Bhatti looks to pass against the MacEwan Griffins during their Canada West men’s basketball game at the Healthy Living Centre on Friday. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)
“First half, I wasn’t super aggressive, I was grabbing rebounds, passing the ball,” Bhatti said. “But I felt like as soon as I got aggressive and was taking my shots, the game got way easier for me and my teammates.
“We still got young guys on the team. They understand basketball, but I’ve been here for five years, so I understand basketball more. At the end of the games, the ball should be in my hands or Travis (Hamberger’s).”
Bhatti entered the weekend third in Canada West at 19 points per game, while also sitting second with 10.1 rebounds per game, third at 5.4 assists per game, and third at 2.3 steals per game.
He tacked on 23 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists as Brandon (7-10) stayed in sixth place in the Prairie Division.
It wasn’t the Bhatti show early, though. The Bobcats spread the ball around to start the game, as five different guys knocked down three-pointers.
The Griffins were just as balanced, with seven players hitting the scoresheet in the opening frame.
BU led 23-20 through 10 minutes, but went cold in the second quarter.
It hit just two of nine from deep and let MacEwan’s physicality make up for its lack of offensive ability to grind out 20 points in the paint and take a 42-39 edge into halftime.
Bhatti and Gill kept Brandon close in the third, but every time the home team scored, the Griffins found an immediate answer to stay ahead, maintaining a 65-61 lead heading to the final frame.
Hamberger got Brandon going with a jumper and a transition layup to tie the game, then Bhatti nailed two free throws and a three to cap a lightning-quick 10-0 run up 70-65.
Hamberger knocked down a trey to entice a MacEwan timeout, then Bhatti drilled a 28-footer to extend the lead to nine with seven minutes remaining.
Brandon’s Munroop Gill leans in as MacEwan’s Marcus Moore tries to corral a loose ball. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)
Arjun Hehar hit a few shots to extend the lead to double-digits, but MacEwan stayed in it with back-to-back three-point plays to cut the lead to 84-79.
Brandon didn’t panic, though. Gill won an isolation play and hit his signature floater, then Youri Cange flew down the lane and tossed down an emphatic dunk to quiet the comeback bid.
Trading buckets was good enough from there for BU.
Hamberger finished with 21 points, while Gill had 19.
Bhatti and Hamberger will be recognized tonight at 7 o’clock, before tonight’s rematch.
“I’m not trying to cry or nothing,” Bhatti said. “My family’s here finally, I’ve been here for five years, they never came … I’m really happy they’re here and last game, it’s going to be something special.”
FREE THROWS: In the BU men’s volleyball match in Edmonton, the Bobcats (6-0) beat the Griffins (0-17) by a score of 3-0 (25-17, 25-23, 25-21). Tom Friesen posted a match-high 17 kills and four errors, while Ethan Baraniuk recorded 13 kills and one error for Brandon. The teams meet again today.
» tfriesen@brandonsun.com