January 22, 2007
MCMASTER STAGES THE COMEBACK OF THE YEAR
McMaster 101, Brock 100 ...with files from McMaster Sports Information
The Marauders, down by as many as 19 points with less than 10 minutes to play, and down by 12 points with less than two minutes on the clock, staged one of the most improbable rallies anyone can remember, upending the Badgers by a 101-100 score.
With the win, McMaster improves to 7-6 in the wacky OUA West, tying them for second place in the conference with the Badgers, who fall to 16-12 overall. After a sluggish first five minutes by both teams, it was the visitors who seized control, opening up a first half lead of as many as 16 points, before heading to the locker room up by 15, 51-36. The Badgers shot a sizzling 62.5% from the floor in the opening 20 minutes. At the other end of the floor, Brock did a great job preventing McMaster senior guard Martin Ajayi (Hamilton, ON) from getting touches. Ajayi didn't hit the scoresheet in the first half, attempting only two shots.
While the Marauders have tended to start the second half strong, on this day, they were matched by the visitors. McMaster did manage to get the deficit into single digits, 55-46, before Brock exerted control once again. The Badgers led 76-57 at the midway point of the second half, and it looked too many of the large crowd in attendance (including over 700 McMaster employees and their families on Staff Appreciation Day) that the game was well in hand, and it was just a matter of the clock running down.
However, someone forgot to tell Ajayi and his teammates. The Marauders started to hit stride. With 5 minutes to play, standout Brock point guard Brad Rootes (Niagara Falls, ON) was whistled for his fifth personal foul. No problem, it seemed, as the Badgers still led by 13. However, when senior forward Chris Keith (Burlington, ON) suffered a similar fate, this time with 3:35 on the clock, McMaster had hope. Still, the home side trailed 99-87 when less than two minutes remaining. McMaster didn't panic, and forced a number of turnovers, managing to score almost every trip at the offensive end.
Still, 12 points with two minutes left is a deficit that is very rarely challenged. But the Marauders did more than get end-of-game garbage points. Senior forward Adam Steiner (Dundas, Ontario) hit both free throws with 31.5 seconds left, to pull Mac to within a pair, 99-97. After a foul, and with 11 seconds left, the Badgers only made one of two foul shots, giving Mac a chance. Ajayi drove the length of the floor for a lay-up, closing the Brock lead to 100-99, with 7 seconds to play. Playing without the calming influence of Rootes, Brock turned the ball over, and senior forward John Obrovac (Hamilton, ON) hit a baseline jumper with 4.3 ticks left, completing the amazing comeback, and sending the crowd of over 2,000 into a frenzy.
Steiner was a force inside all day for Mac, finishing with a game high 29 points, to go along with 6 rebounds. After being held scoreless in the first half, Ajayi's 27 second half points was one of the best halves seen in the OUA for a long time. Obrovac finished with 10 points, as did freshman Aminu Bello (Hamilton, ON), who is an excellent offensive option for Coach Joe Raso. Joe Polizzi finished with 9 points in 8 minutes of floor time, including two big baskets at the end of the first half, to keep the game within reach (although few knew it at the time).
Before fouling out, Keith led Brock with 25 points, including 9-for-13 from the field, and a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the three-point arc. Mike Kemp (Toronto, ON) had 22 points, while Rootes added 19 points, 7 assists, and a game high 8 rebounds. Brock definitely missed Rootes and Keith down the stretch, especially Rootes, as evidenced by the fact the Badgers shot even better from the field in the second half (a very impressive 68.2%), but weren't able to take as many shots, due to turnovers.
Windsor 85, Waterloo 66
Some wins aren’t pretty, but they all count in the standings as the No. 4 Windsor Lancer Men’s basketball team (10-3) knocked off the Waterloo Warriors (6-8) 85-66 on Saturday afternoon in Waterloo. Despite an off shooting night from both teams, Windsor was not challenged in the second half, as they continued to open up their nine point half time lead. The Lancers shot just .475 (29-61) from the field while Waterloo finished with 24-for-63 (.381). Kevin Kloostra (Chatham, Ontario) led Windsor with 19-points. First-year Greg Surmacz (Peterborough, Ontario) added 18 points and a game-best nine rebounds in the victory. Waterloo was led by first year Adam Goodhoofed (Oakville, Ontario) with 15 points.
Other Scores
January 17, 2007
McMaster 68, Guelph 65
Windsor 64, Brock 79
Western 69, Waterloo 55
January 19, 2007
Queen's 65, Ottawa 64
RMC 61, Carelton 79
Laurentian 59, Toronto 83
York 77, Ryerson 67
Laurier 74, Lakehead 59
January 20th, 2007
Guelph 62, Wesern 74
Queen's 60, Carleton 77
RMC 48, Ottawa 82
Laurentian 70, Ryerson 74
York61, Toronto 89
Laurier 69, Lakehead 62
The Marauders, down by as many as 19 points with less than 10 minutes to play, and down by 12 points with less than two minutes on the clock, staged one of the most improbable rallies anyone can remember, upending the Badgers by a 101-100 score.
With the win, McMaster improves to 7-6 in the wacky OUA West, tying them for second place in the conference with the Badgers, who fall to 16-12 overall. After a sluggish first five minutes by both teams, it was the visitors who seized control, opening up a first half lead of as many as 16 points, before heading to the locker room up by 15, 51-36. The Badgers shot a sizzling 62.5% from the floor in the opening 20 minutes. At the other end of the floor, Brock did a great job preventing McMaster senior guard Martin Ajayi (Hamilton, ON) from getting touches. Ajayi didn't hit the scoresheet in the first half, attempting only two shots.
While the Marauders have tended to start the second half strong, on this day, they were matched by the visitors. McMaster did manage to get the deficit into single digits, 55-46, before Brock exerted control once again. The Badgers led 76-57 at the midway point of the second half, and it looked too many of the large crowd in attendance (including over 700 McMaster employees and their families on Staff Appreciation Day) that the game was well in hand, and it was just a matter of the clock running down.
However, someone forgot to tell Ajayi and his teammates. The Marauders started to hit stride. With 5 minutes to play, standout Brock point guard Brad Rootes (Niagara Falls, ON) was whistled for his fifth personal foul. No problem, it seemed, as the Badgers still led by 13. However, when senior forward Chris Keith (Burlington, ON) suffered a similar fate, this time with 3:35 on the clock, McMaster had hope. Still, the home side trailed 99-87 when less than two minutes remaining. McMaster didn't panic, and forced a number of turnovers, managing to score almost every trip at the offensive end.
Still, 12 points with two minutes left is a deficit that is very rarely challenged. But the Marauders did more than get end-of-game garbage points. Senior forward Adam Steiner (Dundas, Ontario) hit both free throws with 31.5 seconds left, to pull Mac to within a pair, 99-97. After a foul, and with 11 seconds left, the Badgers only made one of two foul shots, giving Mac a chance. Ajayi drove the length of the floor for a lay-up, closing the Brock lead to 100-99, with 7 seconds to play. Playing without the calming influence of Rootes, Brock turned the ball over, and senior forward John Obrovac (Hamilton, ON) hit a baseline jumper with 4.3 ticks left, completing the amazing comeback, and sending the crowd of over 2,000 into a frenzy.
Steiner was a force inside all day for Mac, finishing with a game high 29 points, to go along with 6 rebounds. After being held scoreless in the first half, Ajayi's 27 second half points was one of the best halves seen in the OUA for a long time. Obrovac finished with 10 points, as did freshman Aminu Bello (Hamilton, ON), who is an excellent offensive option for Coach Joe Raso. Joe Polizzi finished with 9 points in 8 minutes of floor time, including two big baskets at the end of the first half, to keep the game within reach (although few knew it at the time).
Before fouling out, Keith led Brock with 25 points, including 9-for-13 from the field, and a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the three-point arc. Mike Kemp (Toronto, ON) had 22 points, while Rootes added 19 points, 7 assists, and a game high 8 rebounds. Brock definitely missed Rootes and Keith down the stretch, especially Rootes, as evidenced by the fact the Badgers shot even better from the field in the second half (a very impressive 68.2%), but weren't able to take as many shots, due to turnovers.
Windsor 85, Waterloo 66
Some wins aren’t pretty, but they all count in the standings as the No. 4 Windsor Lancer Men’s basketball team (10-3) knocked off the Waterloo Warriors (6-8) 85-66 on Saturday afternoon in Waterloo. Despite an off shooting night from both teams, Windsor was not challenged in the second half, as they continued to open up their nine point half time lead. The Lancers shot just .475 (29-61) from the field while Waterloo finished with 24-for-63 (.381). Kevin Kloostra (Chatham, Ontario) led Windsor with 19-points. First-year Greg Surmacz (Peterborough, Ontario) added 18 points and a game-best nine rebounds in the victory. Waterloo was led by first year Adam Goodhoofed (Oakville, Ontario) with 15 points.
Other Scores
January 17, 2007
McMaster 68, Guelph 65
Windsor 64, Brock 79
Western 69, Waterloo 55
January 19, 2007
Queen's 65, Ottawa 64
RMC 61, Carelton 79
Laurentian 59, Toronto 83
York 77, Ryerson 67
Laurier 74, Lakehead 59
January 20th, 2007
Guelph 62, Wesern 74
Queen's 60, Carleton 77
RMC 48, Ottawa 82
Laurentian 70, Ryerson 74
York61, Toronto 89
Laurier 69, Lakehead 62
