MEN'S BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: Waterloo can't hold off potent McMaster attack

Wednesday, January 15

Laurier 79 @ Algoma 53

The Algoma Thunderbirds continued the second half of their OUA and CIS season tonight with mid-week games against the Laurentian Voyageurs.
 
In men's action, the Thunderbirds drew first blood, jumping out to a 6-0 lead over the Voyageurs.  Applying full-court pressure and out-rebounding Laurentian 15-9, the Thunderbirds led after the first quarter, 15-13. In the second, the Voyageurs tied it up at 15, and both teams went shot for shot to the end of the first half, leading to a 28-28 tie at the break.  The Thunderbirds slumped in the second-half, and the Voyageurs went on a 6-point run, widening the gap to 38-32. Shooting 42.2 percent from the field, Laurentian continued to build their lead over Algoma, winning in the end by a score of 79-53.  Number three-ranked CIS player Alex Ratte of the Voyageurs led both teams with 29 points and Jimmy Bilenga led the Thunderbirds with 15.  The Voyageurs improved to 8-4, while the Thunderbirds fell to 3-9.

Source: Algoma Athletics
 
Guelph 67 @ Windsor 83

WINDSOR, Ont.- Rookie guard Mike Rocca had a break-out evening, dropping a game-high 26 points, leading the Windsor Lancers men's basketball team to an 83-67 triumph over the visiting Guelph Gryphons on Wednesday night at the St. Denis Centre.
 
With veteran Josh Collins sitting out a third-straight game, the native of Sarnia, Ont. stepped up for the Lancers (8-5), dropping an impressive 7-of-9 jumpers from beyond the arc and recording an 80% field-goal percentage overall in 30 minutes of court-time. In his third-straight start and fifth overall this season, Rocca surpassed his previous high of 14 points, which he tallied against Queen's on November 9.
 
Rocca added six rebounds while Lien Phillip grabbed his sixth-straight double-double, totalling 13 points and 14 boards. Enrico Diloreto added 17 points on 7-of-14 shooting for the Lancers, who improve to 6-1 at home with the win. Jack Beatty tallied 14 points for the Gryphons (3-10), who are hanging on to the final playoff spot in the division heading into Saturday's matches.
 
As a team, the Lancers shot a potent 54.1% (33-for-61) and outrebounded the visitors 43-27. Guelph worked at a 37.5% efficiency and were just 7-of-28 on their three-point attempts. Windsor is comfortably sitting second in the division, and are two wins back of the McMaster Marauders
 
The Lancers will take on the Brock Badgers this Saturday afternoon on Breast Cancer Awareness Day at the St. Denis Centre. Tip-off is set for 3:00 p.m. and will be available live online at GoLancers.TV.

Source: Windsor Sports Info
 

McMaster 88 @ Waterloo 69

Jaspreet Gill (Oliver)'s 26 points wasn't enough as the offensively talented McMaster Marauders got past the Warriors 88-69 on Wednesday night at the PAC.  Athlete of the week Gill now has 90 points in 2014 (4 games) leading the Warriors to a 2-2 record over that span.
 
The loss keeps Waterloo tied for last in the OUA west with a 2-11 record while McMaster remains the top team at 10-3.
 
Waterloo stuck with the Marauders throughout the opening quarter but let it slip away in the second posting only nine points in the process.
 
With McMaster up 40-30, the Warriors continued to chip away in the third quarter led by Gill and Myles Charvis (Mississagua) who put up 12 points in the contest.
 
Down only eight after three quarters, the Marauders stepped up their game and walked away with the game outscoring Waterloo 28-17 in the final quarter to cruise to the 88-69 victory.
 
Tying Gill's game high 26 points was McMaster guard Joseph Rocca who went 9-for-12 from the field with four 3-pointers.  Taylor Black and Rohan Boney were also key parts of McMaster's offence with 14 and 13 points respectively.
 
Waterloo will be back to the PAC on Saturday afternoon for Youth Basketball Day when they take on the Guelph Gryphons at 3pm.  The game can be seen live on Warriors TV.

Source: Waterloo Sports Info


Laurier 98 @ Brock 88

ST. CATHARINES, Ont. - The Brock University men's basketball team (2-11 OUA West) dropped a 98-88 decision to the Laurier Golden Hawks (6-7 OUA West) on Wednesday evening in the Bob Davis Gymnasium.
 
The Badgers fell behind early in the first quarter and found themselves in an 11-point hole trailing the Golden Hawks 23-12 through the first ten minutes.
 
Laurier continued to find the basket in the second quarter increasing their advantage to 49-33 with a seven-point run to end the first half.
 
Brock would outscore the Golden Hawks 19-14 in a well played third quarter but continued to trail by 11, 63-52, heading into the final frame.
 
It was a high scoring fourth quarter that saw both teams combine for a total of 71 points. The Badgers would pick up 36 of the 71 points to win the quarter but ultimately dropped the game 98-88.
 
Freshman Dani Elgadi (Waterloo, Ont.) and senior Tshing Kasamba (St. Catharines, Ont.) were impressive for Brock, as Elgadi had 31 points and 14 rebounds, while Kasamba registered 29 points and 15 rebounds giving both players double doubles. Juniors Nathaniel Gardner (Ajax, Ont.) and Jay Fast(St. Catharines, Ont.) chipped in with 10 points each in the loss.
 
Max Allin led the way for the Golden Hawks registering a double double with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Jamar Forde and James Agyeman collected 19 and 16 points respectively, while Patrick Donnelly led all players off the bench with 10 points.
 
As a team, the Badgers shot 39.5% (30-76) from the field, 31.6% (6-19) from beyond the arc, and 73.3% (22-30) from the free throw line. Laurier shot 46.2% (36-78) from the field, 31.6% (6-19) from three point territory, and 95.2% (20-21) from the charity stripe.
 
Brock will travel to Windsor to take on the 10th ranked Lancers (9-3 OUA West) on Saturday, January 18th with the tip off scheduled for 3pm. 

Source: Brock Sports Info