Ngala leads Tigers to win over SMU

(HALIFAX, N.S.) – After seeing their run of three straight AUS Men's Basketball Championship titles come to an end last year, the Dalhousie Tigers will get the chance to start another streak in 2024. 

Nginyu Ngala (Montreal, Que.) scored a career-best 37 to beat the Saint Mary's Huskies 90-75 in AUS Men's Basketball Championship semifinal action played Saturday night at the Scotiabank Centre. 

Dalhousie was ousted in the semifinals last season, ending their three-year run as the league's best. STFX took over the mantle as champions and, coincidentally, who Dal will face in Sunday's championship final. Game time is set for 4pm. 

The X-Men punched their ticket to the final with a Saturday afternoon 86-70 victory over Memorial University.  

It wasn't often this season that the league MVP, Malcolm Christie (Fredericton, N.B.), played second fiddle during a game this year, but despite his own 27-point performance, that's exactly what happened. 

With Saint Mary's focused on Christie, and rightfully so, Ngala jumped at the opportunity to be the guy early on.  

Ngala used his speed to get to the basket time and again, leading to 19 points by the half. He didn't stop there, adding 18 more in the second half to garner Player of the Game honours. 

Despite being guarded closely, Christie managed 15 of his own in the opening half – including an acrobatic three-point shot in which he was fouled on late in the second quarter. He made the subsequent free throw for the rare four-point play. 

Saint Mary's struggles from the 3-point-line hindered their ability to keep it close. As a team, they shot over 31% from beyond the arc during the regular season, but on Saturday night, they shot just 18.8% - going 3-for-16.  

Devawn White (Montreal, Que.) led the Huskies with 17 points, while teammate Jayrell Diggs (East Preston, N.S.) added 16 of his own.