ANCASTER, Ont. - After trailing by as many as 21 points in the first half, the Sheridan Bruins men's basketball team (11-2, 3-1 OCAA) fought back to set up a dramatic finish, but ultimately couldn't complete the comeback in a 112-109 loss to Redeemer.

"Redeemer played outstanding and the crowd was great," head coach Jim Flack said. "They earned this from start to finish." 

There were 14 lead changes and five ties over the final 7:24 of the fourth quarter, as the two sides traded buckets and the lead. Ultimately the Royals made enough plays and converted often enough from the charity stripe to put the game away. 

Both sides had 37 free throw attempts, but Redeemer converted 30 of theirs (81.1 per cent) while the Bruins sank just 21 (56.8 per cent). In a game that had so many twists and turns, the lack of efficiency at the foul line was a major source of frustration for Flack. 

"One of these days our guys will learn to respect the fact that making free throws is a more important skill than dunking the ball or making someone trip with a crossover dribble," he said. "You'd never know it by what they focus on. I love them to death, but I sound like a broken record on this subject."

Redeemer led 62-45 at the break, after shooting 50 per cent from the floor (18-36), 52 per cent from 3-point range (10-19), and 89 per cent from the free throw line (16-18) in the opening 20 minutes. The Double Blue held them in check early in the second half, opening the third period on an 18-6 run to climb back into the contest. 

Khaleek Bakare-Whyte scored a team-high 28 points while adding six assists, five boards, three steals, and a block. Five other Bruins hit double figures, led by Jemol Edwards (22), and followed by Keenan Danso-Dapaah (13), Dontae Thompson (13), Tre Anderson (11), and Stefan Simpson (11). 

The Bruins will hit the road again on Nov. 7, travelling to Humber for the 120th edition of The Game.