CARLETON DOWNS HAWKS 83-76, ADVANCES TO FIFTH CONSECUTIVE WILSON CUP FINAL
HAMILTON, Ont. (OUA) - The reigning three-time OUA-champion Carleton Ravens earned a berth in their fifth consecutive Wilson Cup final with a come-from-behind 83-76 victory over the Laurier Golden Hawks Friday night in semifinal action at of the OUA men's basketball Final Four, hosted by McMaster University.
Wilson Cup Final Four web site: www.oua.ca/wilsoncup.
The Ravens, ranked first in the CIS Top Ten poll and undefeated in conference and playoff competition this season, were out-scored by Laurier in the first three of four quarters before finally taking the upper hand in the final period.
Carleton's Philip Scrubb, winner of this year's OUA East Rookie of the Year award, earned Porter Player of the Game honours, amassing 23 points, including eight field goals and a perfect seven-of-seven on free throw shooting. OUA East Player of the Year Tyson Hinz tallied another 18 points for the Ravens, and grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds. Also in double-digit scoring for Carleton were Willy Manigat and OUA East first-team all-star Cole Hobin, with 16 and 15 points respectively.
For Laurier, OUA West first-team all-star Kale Harrison had a team-leading 26 points, including 10 field goals. Jamar Forde and Matthew Buckley added 11 points apiece, with Buckley claiming 10 rebounds.
The Wilson Cup, first presented in 1908-09, is emblematic of the Ontario university men's basketball championship, and is in its 94th season of competition.
Carleton, the winner of the past three Wilson Cup titles, has a 6-3 all-time record in the conference final, including winning six of the past eight titles and appearing in eight of the past 10 OUA championship games.
The win gives Carleton a berth in the CIS men's basketball Final 8, hosted at the Halifax Metro Centre on March 11-13, alongside the Lakehead Thunderwolves, who downed the Ottawa Gee-Gees in the first semifinal earlier in the evening.
Carleton and Laurier matched each other almost score-for score in the opening frame. Harrison amassed 11 points in the opening 10 minutes of play, helping the Hawks to a slim 26-25 advantage at the first intermission.
The high-offence stalemate continued through the second quarter, Laurier nursing a three-point lead to enter halftime ahead 47-44.
Laurier briefly opened up some breathing room early in the third quarter, starting the frame with six unanswered points. The Golden Hawks gradually built up a 12-point, 60-48 lead, though a Carleton rally diminished this advantage to 65-60
After being outscored in each of the preceding quarters, Carleton's offence finally took the upper hand in the final frame, outscoring the Hawks 23-11 to earn an 83-76 victory.
Carleton will face the Lakehead Thunderwolves for the Wilson Cup championship Saturday, March 5 at 8.00 pm at McMaster's Burridge Gymnasium. The game will be telecast live by The Score network. The game will be webcast live at www.thescore.com.
WILSON CUP FINAL FOUR SCHEDULE
All games at Burridge Gymnasium, McMaster University
Friday March 4
Semifinal 1: Lakehead Thunderwolves 71, Ottawa Gee-Gees 69
Semifinal 2: Carleton Ravens 83, Laurier Golden Hawks 76
Saturday March 5
Wilson Cup final: Lakehead Thunderwolves vs. Carleton Ravens - 8.00 pm
