The Bisons opened their international trip with a 61–47 win over Virginia Wesleyan.
It wasn’t the prettiest game—understandable for early August—but the team battled through tough conditions, including a sweltering 40°C gym.
Fourteen different players saw court time, giving everyone a chance to contribute and shake off the rust. A solid start and a valuable opportunity to grow as a group in unfamiliar conditions.
By Taven Vigilance
(Player)
Today was a busy day filled with excitement.
We started off the morning by visiting the National Palace of Sintra, about a 40 minute drive from Lisbon.
On the bus ride there our tour guide told us about some of the interesting facts about the city as we drove through it.
Once we got there, we explored the palace while learning about the rich history and incredible architecture of it.
After the palace visit we checked out some of the shops around the area where they sold all types of souvenirs.
Once we were all done checking out the shops, we split into groups where we enjoyed an independent lunch of our choosing.
After digging into some great food, we headed back to the hotel to relax before our first game of the trip against Virginia Wesleyan University.
We got to the gym and like all our practices, the gym was super hot.
During the game we struggled a bit offensively and had lots of turnovers, but in the end, we got the job done and won by about 15 points.
It was a rough first game for us, but I am sure it will only get better from here.
After the game we headed back to hotel and enjoyed a buffet filled with tons of delicious food.
To finish off the day, me and a couple other guys went out to try Pastel de Nata, a type of custard pastry which is one of Portugal’s most popular desserts.
This trip has already been such an amazing time, and it is only the fourth day!
It is a trip that I am going to remember for the rest of my life, and we are all extremely grateful for the opportunity and recognize what our alumni and donors have done to make this trip a great one.