Briercrest lost their first home game of the winter semester to the CCAA third-ranked Medicine Hat College Rattlers Friday night. They fought hard, but the final score ended up at, 90-77 for the advantage of Medicine Hat.

Briercrest lost the tip off, starting off the 1^st quarter, but immediately gained the rebound as Ben Kornelsen – a forward for Briercrest -- brought the first two points to the scoreboard. Later on Brandon Tolentino from Briercrest delivered a nice lay up that brought the scoreboard to 9-6 for the advantage of Medicine Hat. Both teams battled it out with intensity, but Briercrest fell behind with a score of 17-10 with 3:00 minutes left in the 1^st quarter. Finally, Zak Tamlin sunk a foul shot taking the scoreboard to 24-11 for the advantage of Medicine Hat, in the final seconds of the 1^st quarter.

In the second quarter of the home game -- hosted by Briercrest -- Brandon Tolentino scored the first basket bringing the scoreboard to, 24-14 for the advantage of Medicine Hat, still. Ethan da Silva brought his moves back to the court with an impressive fake and assist that led to Joshua Mohammed scoring a beautiful 3-point basket bringing the score to, 28-20. Zak Tamlin sunk a 3-point basket followed up by a 2-point basket, and sunk both of his foul shots, bringing the score to, 38-33, for the advantage of Medicine Hat. Shortly after, Brian Tolentino performed a nice fake and switched the scoreboard to, 38-35, but Briercrest still remained behind with a score of, 46-35 at the end of the 2^nd quarter.

Ethan da Silva carried the ball up the court looking for the first play to start off the 3^rd quarter. The play was executed when Ethan passed the ball off to Brandon Tolentino who scored a nice 3-point shot bringing the scoreboard to, 46-38 for the advantage of Medicine Hat. Shortly following, Ben Kornelsen sunk two nice foul shots, da Silva sunk a beautiful 3-point, and Brandon Tolentino sunk another 3-pooint that switched the scoreboard to, 58-48. Later on, Christopher McLachlan, rose as a proponent of Briercrest. He sunk a nice 3-point shot, taking the score to, 65-51 for the advantage of Medicine Hat, while also executed a nice lay-up right down the middle of the court. Tolentino led both of the teams out of the last few second of the third quarter. He scored two foul shots bringing the score to, 71-61 for the advantage of Medicine Hat.

The 4^th quarter started off led by the Medicine Hat Rattlers. They scored the first few baskets. While Briercrest fought hard but fell behind by 15 points until Zak Tamlin put Briercrest back in the game raising the score to 75-63, for the advantage of Medicine Hat. Following up, Ethan Da Silva threw a long ball across the entire court and got an assist, as Ben Kornelsen took the score to, 78-65, and Brian Tolentino scored another 3-point taking the score to, 80-68 for the advantage of Medicine Hat. Finally, with seconds left on the clock, Ben Kornelsen dunked the ball bringing the final score to, 90-77 for the advantage of Medicine Hat.

Briercrest Player of the Game was Ben Kornelsen with a game high 19 points to go with four rebounds and a steal. Ethan DaSilva had a game high nine assists and Zak Tamlin had a team high five rebounds and the lone Briercrest block.

For up to date information on the Briercrest Men’s Basketball team and Briercrest Athletics, “like” us on Facebook or at gobriercrest.ca. To watch games online go to acactv.ca