It feels like déjà vu for the Canisius College men’s basketball team.
The Griffs have played five different teams in five different cities so far this month, but every game has felt eerily similar.
Canisius would jump out to early leads in the contests and then fall behind. Mass numbers of turnovers and fouls threatened to turn the games into blowouts, and the Griffs allowed opponents to shoot a high percentage from the field.
Sunday night’s 86-74 loss to Northwestern State in Natchitoches, La., Canisius' fourth loss in its last five games, was no exception.
The Griffs got out to an 8-3 lead after senior Rob Goldsberry hit a layup 3:03 into the game. Then the Demons went on a 15-3 run, capped by a Logan McConathy three-pointer with 12:58 to go in the half, to put NWLA in front of Canisius, 18-11.
The Griffs got behind by as many as 11 in the first half before fighting back to make it a three-point game at halftime, 39-36. The Demons shot 40 percent in the period, including 5-of-14 from behind the arc.
Senior Elton Frazier hit the only three-pointer he took in the half, but the rest of the Griffs combined to go 0-of-12. Classmate Rob Goldsberry led Canisius with 10 points at the break but also led the team with four turnovers.
Senior Greg Logins knocked down two three-pointers in the opening minute of the second half to give Canisius the lead, but Louis Ellis responded with a three of his own to put the Demons ahead for good. Logins finished the night with 17 points, matching a season high.
The Griffs got into foul trouble in the second half, as they were whistled for 17 infractions in the stanza. Logins fouled out early in the half while other Griffs watched from the sideline.
Northwestern State pulled away with 47 points in the second half, 18 coming from the charity stripe. Canisius was able to bring the score within 10 but never made a serious attempt at coming back.
Frazier ended the night with 22 points and six rebounds, while Goldsberry ended with a career-high 15 points. Devon Baker led the Demons with 22.
Junior Marial Dhal, the tallest player in school history, pulled down just one rebound in 11 minutes of action.
The Griffs ended the game with 23 turnovers and 31 personal fouls, numbers not nearly good enough to win a college basketball game. The loss also extends the Sunday losing streak to 23 games, dating back to 2006. Canisius’ next shot at breaking the streak comes on Sunday, Jan. 9, when Rider visits the Koessler Athletic Center in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action.
Up next for the Griffs on the team’s holiday trip is a game versus Lamar in Beaumont, Texas. Lamar is currently third in the nation in scoring at 89.2 points per game.
