OUA PLAYOFF PUSH: MEN'S BASKETBALL
February 24, 2009
HAMILTON, Ont. - The men's basketball playoffs in Ontario University Athletics (OUA) will tip off on four different courts on Wednesday evening.
The Toronto Varsity Blues (15-7) host the Queen's Gaels (7-15) in an East Division match-up. The Varsity Blues enter the playoffs with momentum on their side, having won nine of their last 11 regular season games.
Toronto's top offensive threat is fourth-year point guard Rob Paris (St. Catharines, Ont.), who led the team with 347 points. Fourth-year forwards Patrick Sewell (London, Ont.) and Ahmed Nazmi (Cairo, Egypt) combined for 269 rebounds on the season.
The Gaels limped to the regular season finish line, losing 10 of 11 games. Fourth-year guard Baris Ondul (Istanbul, Turkey) adds to the international flavour of this match-up, scoring a team-high 254 points for Queen's. Third-year forward Mitch Leger (Kingston, Ont.) was the only Gael to crack the century mark in rebounds with an even 100. Queen's lost both regular season meetings against Toronto in 2008-09.
In the other East Division playoff, the Ryerson Rams (12-10) host the York Lions (7-15) in a cross-town showdown. The task for the Lions is simple: stop third-year forward Boris Bakovic (Toronto, Ont.). It is easier said then done, however. Bakovic led OUA in points with 600 for an average of 27.3 per game. No other OUA player surpassed 500 points on the season. If Bakovic wasn't scoring points, he was grabbing rebounds, as he finished second in OUA with 209 boards.
The Lions are led by fifth-year guard Tut Ruach (Mississauga, Ont.), who scored 408 points in the regular season. York's top rebounder was third-year forward Stefan Haynes (North York, Ont.) with 147 boards.
York enters its meeting with Ryerson having won three of their past five games. The Rams have lost four out of five. Ryerson swept the two-game regular season series against the Lions.
In the West Division, the McMaster Marauders (13-9) host the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (9-13) in a battle of the birds. The top scoring threats on the Marauders include fourth-year centre Mouctar Diaby, fifth-year forward Marko Gacic and second-year guard Tyrell Vernon, all from Hamilton, Ont. Diaby led the team with 254 points with and 183 rebounds.
The Golden Hawks rely on second-year small forward Kale Harrison (Stratford, Ont.) and fourth-year guard Jesse MacDonald (Brantford, Ont.) for their offence, combining for 721 points during the season. Harrison also led the team in rebounds with 144.
Despite the worse regular season record, the Golden Hawks managed to win both their meetings with the Marauders this season. McMaster has struggled down the stretch, losing four of the last six games. Laurier has lost three straight.
In the other West Division playoff game, the Waterloo Warriors (10-12) visit the Guelph Gryphons (10-12). Second-year guard Cam McIntyre (Waterloo, Ont.) led the Warriors with 357 points while receiving a combined effort on the boards with fourth-year forward Ben Frisby (Vancouver, B.C.), fourth-year centre Matt Hayes (Midland, Ont.) and fifth-year forward Dan White (Waterloo, Ont.) all reaching triple-figures in rebounds.
Waterloo will need to contain Gryphons fifth-year forward Duncan Milne (Calgary, Alta.), who led the team in both points (286) and rebounds (146) in 2008-09. Fifth-year guard Nick Pankerichan (Hamilton, Ont.) and second-year guard Jonathan Moscatelli (Toronto, Ont.) are also scoring threats for the Guelph side.
The Gryphons won both meetings against Waterloo during the regular season. Guelph won four of its last five regular season games, while the Warriors won their last two contests.
The No. 1 nationally-ranked Carleton Ravens, No. 3 Ottawa Gee-Gees, No. 4 Western Mustangs and No. 8 Windsor Lancers all earned byes in the opening round and will host OUA quarter-final games on Feb. 28.
OUA MEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS
Wed., Feb. 25
7 p.m. – Laurier @ McMaster
7 p.m. – Waterloo @ Guelph
8 p.m. – Queen's @ Toronto
8 p.m. – York @ Ryerson
– OUA –
ABOUT ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its 19 member institutions are developing Champions For Life. Giving 9,000 student-athletes the opportunity to excel academically and on the playing field, while preparing for life after university. For more information, visit OUA.ca.
The Toronto Varsity Blues (15-7) host the Queen's Gaels (7-15) in an East Division match-up. The Varsity Blues enter the playoffs with momentum on their side, having won nine of their last 11 regular season games.
Toronto's top offensive threat is fourth-year point guard Rob Paris (St. Catharines, Ont.), who led the team with 347 points. Fourth-year forwards Patrick Sewell (London, Ont.) and Ahmed Nazmi (Cairo, Egypt) combined for 269 rebounds on the season.
The Gaels limped to the regular season finish line, losing 10 of 11 games. Fourth-year guard Baris Ondul (Istanbul, Turkey) adds to the international flavour of this match-up, scoring a team-high 254 points for Queen's. Third-year forward Mitch Leger (Kingston, Ont.) was the only Gael to crack the century mark in rebounds with an even 100. Queen's lost both regular season meetings against Toronto in 2008-09.
In the other East Division playoff, the Ryerson Rams (12-10) host the York Lions (7-15) in a cross-town showdown. The task for the Lions is simple: stop third-year forward Boris Bakovic (Toronto, Ont.). It is easier said then done, however. Bakovic led OUA in points with 600 for an average of 27.3 per game. No other OUA player surpassed 500 points on the season. If Bakovic wasn't scoring points, he was grabbing rebounds, as he finished second in OUA with 209 boards.
The Lions are led by fifth-year guard Tut Ruach (Mississauga, Ont.), who scored 408 points in the regular season. York's top rebounder was third-year forward Stefan Haynes (North York, Ont.) with 147 boards.
York enters its meeting with Ryerson having won three of their past five games. The Rams have lost four out of five. Ryerson swept the two-game regular season series against the Lions.
In the West Division, the McMaster Marauders (13-9) host the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (9-13) in a battle of the birds. The top scoring threats on the Marauders include fourth-year centre Mouctar Diaby, fifth-year forward Marko Gacic and second-year guard Tyrell Vernon, all from Hamilton, Ont. Diaby led the team with 254 points with and 183 rebounds.
The Golden Hawks rely on second-year small forward Kale Harrison (Stratford, Ont.) and fourth-year guard Jesse MacDonald (Brantford, Ont.) for their offence, combining for 721 points during the season. Harrison also led the team in rebounds with 144.
Despite the worse regular season record, the Golden Hawks managed to win both their meetings with the Marauders this season. McMaster has struggled down the stretch, losing four of the last six games. Laurier has lost three straight.
In the other West Division playoff game, the Waterloo Warriors (10-12) visit the Guelph Gryphons (10-12). Second-year guard Cam McIntyre (Waterloo, Ont.) led the Warriors with 357 points while receiving a combined effort on the boards with fourth-year forward Ben Frisby (Vancouver, B.C.), fourth-year centre Matt Hayes (Midland, Ont.) and fifth-year forward Dan White (Waterloo, Ont.) all reaching triple-figures in rebounds.
Waterloo will need to contain Gryphons fifth-year forward Duncan Milne (Calgary, Alta.), who led the team in both points (286) and rebounds (146) in 2008-09. Fifth-year guard Nick Pankerichan (Hamilton, Ont.) and second-year guard Jonathan Moscatelli (Toronto, Ont.) are also scoring threats for the Guelph side.
The Gryphons won both meetings against Waterloo during the regular season. Guelph won four of its last five regular season games, while the Warriors won their last two contests.
The No. 1 nationally-ranked Carleton Ravens, No. 3 Ottawa Gee-Gees, No. 4 Western Mustangs and No. 8 Windsor Lancers all earned byes in the opening round and will host OUA quarter-final games on Feb. 28.
OUA MEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS
Wed., Feb. 25
7 p.m. – Laurier @ McMaster
7 p.m. – Waterloo @ Guelph
8 p.m. – Queen's @ Toronto
8 p.m. – York @ Ryerson
– OUA –
ABOUT ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its 19 member institutions are developing Champions For Life. Giving 9,000 student-athletes the opportunity to excel academically and on the playing field, while preparing for life after university. For more information, visit OUA.ca.