Senior Saints outclass Edinburgh Uni opponents
College men turn game around despite injury woes
Craig Ritchie
Injury-hit St Mirren Senior Men were taken to the wire in their latest outing, away to Edinburgh University.
Early season form is often misleading with the college and universities as many students do not arrive until October, but Saints, without Dave Johnston, Graham Hunter and Dale Grieve, were missing a major chunk of experience and points scoring ability.
Saints looked comfortable in the opening minute as they made the first two scores with no reply, then the floodgates opened.
From 4-0 ahead to 14-4 down was how it went, with unknown students scoring three-pointers at will and pressuring a rocky looking Saints.
A little bit of composure and Chris Barron and Euan Glass led the fightback to see Saints recover to just 20-12 behind at the break.
Nick Collins was looking better after a couple of weeks battling injury as he hit Saints’ first eight points of the second period.
Colin Railley then went down under a heavy challenge and was found to have extended his knee ligaments and was carried off to take no further part.
And then there were seven – Saints that is – until it became apparent that young Fergus Harte, expected to provide a bit of pace for Saints, was suffering from a chest infection.
It looked like it could be long day for the remaining Saints players as the home team recovered from Collins’ blitz and got themselves back in control.
Chris Cleary’s first score of the day was a helpful three-pointer and then another score close in as he shouldered some of the burden from Collins.
Nineteen points all in the period, and still behind 39-31 at half-time, had Saints looking at their past experiences of tough situations and a way out.
The third period proved to be the turning point as they made their stand, with five different scorers getting on the scoreboard.
An early Barron three-pointer helped eat into the lead and Collins and Cleary went to work inside for 13 points with Scott Armstrong and Harte adding the rest on the breakaway for a healthy 26- 14 turnaround.
A slight lead at 57-53 going into the fourth quarter let Saints think they could do it even as they fell behind a couple of times as the clock wound down.
Experience saw the Saints keep their composure as the last two minutes arrived and from 68-66 behind, no less than five different Saints put the ball in the basket including Barron free-throws, at 73-72 with 20 seconds left.
The made free throws had the game at 75-72 with the home team in possession, a side line ball and a time out with 11 seconds left saw the Saints prepared to allow a two point play and when it happened, and Collins stepped away from his man instead of trying to stop him, the surprise caused the shot to hit the underside of the basket and Euan Glass gathered the ball to see the last two seconds disappear.
A hard fought team effort from the Saints for victory at 75-72.