In a fiercely contested intramural game, Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) defeated Sigma Chi 42-39 in overtime to advance to the next round of the Point League playoffs. Sigma Chi was previously undefeated on the season.
Sigma Chi came in to the game with an unblemished record and the support of former starting varsity player Dustin Tylka. Tylka, a fifth year senior, had exhausted his NCAA eligibility after four standout seasons and joined the Sigma Chi squad. Tylka commented on the change over from collegiate level basketball to intramural play.
“Give me a second to think,” Tylka said, “I’m a little hung over and tired.”
Sigma Chi’s squad was also aided by the presence of fraternity members Justin Thompson and Mike Faherty, who is a current member of the varsity team, who served as coaches of the team.
Despite the obvious advantages of Tylka’s play and Faherty’s keen fashion sense, the SAE squad proved too much for Sigma Chi. SAE was led by the strong play of Ifeayni Aguanunu and Rob Stillings.
SAE got off to a strong start at the beginning of the game and took an early lead. Sigma Chi would recapture the lead on a lay-up and three-pointer by Adam Wood. Wood, a native of Canada, seemed to be spurred on by Faherty’s call for defense.
“This isn’t Canada,” Faherty said, “We play defense.”
While Sigma Chi had an interior size advantage and frequently blocked the shots of its smaller opponent, SAE was able to stay in the game with its outside shooting and quickness on the fast break. Sigma Chi led 18-17 at halftime.
Unsatisfied with a slim one point lead, the Sigma Chi team gathered around at halftime for a team huddle. The team truly seemed energized and appeared to have a renewed sense of purpose after emerging from the huddle and its accompanying chant of, “1,2,3 LABIA!”
Perhaps too excited from the halftime huddle, Sigma Chi player Adam Thomas threw up behind his own basket shortly in to the second half. Thomas, maintaining a smile throughout, headed to the sidelines to catch his breath for a few minutes. Upon returning to the game, Thomas scored several of the next points and had a key block in a performance reminiscent of the flu-ridden Jordan in the 1997 NBA finals.
“I was giving 110%,” Thomas said of the untimely vomiting incident. “But the other 10% came out of me. So now it’s just 100%.”
As in most close games, officiating became an issue for the players. Like many of the players, Aguanunu expressed disappointment with the refereeing.
“These refs suck,” Aguanunu said.
Sigma Chi’s players were equally upset about the officiating. When one of his teammates was called for a questionable charge, Stephen Quinn cleared up the charge drawer’s educational background for his teammates.
“He went to drama school,” Quinn remarked.
The teams had large audiences for their complaints as both squads enjoyed support from their fraternal brothers. Some came to root on their brothers while some came for entirely different reasons.
“I don’t know anything about basketball,” SAE brother Peter Forsberg said, “I just come for the uniforms.”
After two halves of play, the game could still not be decided with the scored tied 38-38. Overtime was needed. Unlike the regular season in which teams record a tie after regulation, a five-minute overtime is played in the playoffs.
Neither team scored until 1:09 left in overtime when Aguanunu converted on one of two free-throws. Thomas then earned a trip to the line of his own and also made one of two. With the score tied 39 all and limited time remaining, Tylka brought up the ball and drove the lane looking for the final shot of the game. Tylka blew by his defender and went up for a lay-up. While there appeared to be some contact, no whistle was blown and Tylka missed the shot. SAE responded by quickly bringing the ball up the court and Aguanunu scored and was fouled. Aguanunu scored on the free-throw attempt. With only two seconds now remaining, Sigma Chi tried to inbound the ball and get off a shot but there was not enough time.
“You know, the game had it all- tough competition, bad reffing, vomiting,” Sigma Chi player Ashton Forbes said. “There can’t be two winners though. Someone had to lose and unfortunately, it was us.”