Joe Mclean
The University of Glasgow Men’s Basketball team maintained their unbeaten run this season, when they lined up against title rivals Aberdeen at the Kelvin Hall International Sports Arena on Wed 10th November. Glasgow, who top the BUCS Scottish Conference, had previously won all four league games this season against Aberdeen, Stirling, Strathclyde and Heriot-Watt Universities. A fifth straight victory has set Glasgow up for a historic league title win.
A lot was resting on the outcome of this game and as it tipped off it was clear that Glasgow were nervy. This seemed to come as a bit of a surprise to the home fans who came along to cheer on their team. Glasgow started this crucial tie at a slow pace in the first quarter, and it seemed as though the pressure and importance of this game was starting to show on Glasgow’s players. They were struggling to run their half of the court and were making basic mistakes, many of which proved costly. A nervous mixture of disappointing attacking play as well as some poor defence resulted in the quarter ending with the score tied at Glasgow 14 Aberdeen 14.
In the second quarter Glasgow picked up the pace and started to work harder defensively. The coach’s words of encouragement must have been ringing in their ears as they started this quarter, as whatever he had said was starting to work – Glasgow showed real fight and determination throughout the team. The side started to dominate their home turf and in turn started winning more rebounds, which gave them a 6 point lead going out at half-time.
The break gave Glasgow a chance to regroup and get their title focus back on track. As they emerged for the second half, home fans could see the title in Glasgow’s sights and got behind their team. The home side picked up on this and their coach’s half time team talk, as they looked a renewed and revitalised group of players. Glasgow really came into their own in this third quarter, starting to push the ball much better, thanks in part to some excellent play from Steve Archer. This mix of confident attacking play continued into the fourth quarter. Throughout this second half Glasgow showed just why they are Conference title challengers and they were now playing like champions. In the end Glasgow’s strength and fitness showed through and they ran out eventual winners 74-52 over Aberdeen. The top scorers on the night for the home team were Kubisz with 13 points and Spangevicius with 20.
The home win means that the BUCS Scottish Conference title can be secured by Glasgow for the first time in 15 years, if they win to Stirling this Wednesday.
Elsewhere the GUBC caused a huge upset last weekend in the Scottish Cup, by knocking out last years winners, Falkirk Fury in the 1st round. Top scorers in this game were Keliauskas with 27 and Archer with 21.
