CIS men's basketball Saturday roundup Stingers, Ravens, Golden Bears win conference titles

HALIFAX, NS – The AUS top seeded StFX X-Men defeated the Cape Breton Capers 92-77 in Subway AUS semi-final playoff action Saturday evening at the Halifax Metro Centre. With the win, the CIS ranked No. 6 X-Men advance to the AUS championship game tomorrow and also punch their ticket to next weekend’s CIS Final Eight national championship.

Subway Player of the Game Jeremy Dunn led the X-Men attack with 32 points and 10 rebounds, while AUS MVP Jimmy Dorsey replied with 17 points and nine rebounds for the Capers.

The game started off fairly even throughout the opening quarter as the two teams exchanged baskets. Dorset was cold in the three-point department for the Capers, shooting 0 for 3 as the X-Men opened up a six point lead late in the quarter. Dunn hit a three-pointer for the blue and white with just over 20 seconds left in the opening frame to give the X-Men a 23-19 advantage after 10 minutes of play. Dunn scored 12 of the X-Men’s opening 23 points.

Cape Breton guard Jamie Glasgow opened the second quarter with a three-point dish for the Capers as he tried to swing the momentum in their favor, however StFX was able to hang on to a 4-5 point lead throughout the majority of the quarter.

AUS first team all-star Terry Thomas connected on a three-pointer for the X-Men with just under three minutes to go in the first half, then teammate Tyrell Vernon connected on another three-point dish to give StFX a 42-31 lead as the X-Men began to pull away from the fourth seeded Capers.

The half-time score stood at 45-33 for StFX as Dunn scored 17 points in the opening half. The X-Men were able to hold league-leading scorer Jimmy Dorsey to eight points.

StFX held onto their ten point advantage for the opening two minutes of the third quarter then the Capers began to mount a comeback and pulled to within six points. Al Alilovic gave the Capers fans something to cheer about as his three-pointer late in the quarter pulled them to within five at 63-58.The third closed out with StFX up 66-60 over Cape Breton, despite being outscored 27-21.

The X-Men played well in the fourth and final frame, hanging onto their lead throughout the quarter as they outscored the Capers 26-17. Freshman Marquis Clayton played well for the X-Men down the stretch as he scored 17 points in the second half, including two key three-point buckets in the fourth quarter. StFX held on for the comfortable 92-77 victory.

Jeremy Dunn’s 32 points led all scorers in the game. Clayton scored 17 for StFX and also had a pair of steals as the X-Men shot 45.3% from field goal range. Terry Thomas had a double-double night for the X-Men with 16 points and 11 rebounds, along with three assists, two steals and a block.

Dorsey led the Capers with 17 points and nine rebounds, while Alilovic had a double-double evening with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Arild Geugjes and Julian Smith each scored 12 points apiece.

StFX advances to the Subway AUS championship game on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 pm at the Halifax Metro Centre. They await their opponent as the second seeded Acadia Axemen and sixth seeded Saint Mary’s Huskies meet in the second semi-final. 

Source: StFX Sports Info

MONTREAL - The Concordia Stingers defeated the UQAM Citadins 77-47 to win their second consecutive RSEQ men’s basketball championship and a berth at the CIS national championship in Halifax March 9-11.

Concordia was in control from start to finish, but no single player dominated the game.

“Defence wins championships and that’s how we won tonight,” said 3rd-year guard Kyle Desmarais. “Coach (John Dore) had us start pressing from the beginning. We were tough, we were physical and that’s how we won tonight.”

Desmarais led the Stingers in scoring with 13 points and five assists. RSEQ MVP Evens Laroche collected 11 points and nine rebounds, while fifth-year guard Decee Krah was good for 10 points, five rebounds and six steals.

Concordia had 16 steals and forced UQAM to turn over the ball 24 times. The Stingers also out rebounded the Citadins 51 to 35.

The top scorer in the game was UQAM’s Alexandre Bernard with 16 points.

Concordia was up 21-14 after the first quarter and 33-20 by halftime.

This is the 20th conference title for the Stingers since Concordia University was formed 37 years ago. It is also the 13th regional title for the team since head coach John Dore took over the program in the 1989-90 season.

Now the team eagerly awaits the seedings for the national championship tournament that will be announced Sunday night.

“We’re a year older and wiser,” Desmarais said. “Last year we were a little in awe when we got to Halifax. This year we know what to expect and we will be ready for it.”

Source: Concordial Sports Info

WATERLOO, Ont.  – The Carleton Ravens are the OUA men's basketball champions for the seventh time in 10 years, decimating the Ryerson Rams 82-39 in the Wilson Cup final tonight at the OUA Final Four tournament, hosted by the University of Waterloo.

Fifth-year Raven guard Cole Hobin, of Ashton, Ont., earned Porter Player of the Game honours, adding to his OUA East Defensive Player of the Year award captured earlier this week. Hobin posted a team-high 17 points, sinking a trio of three-pointers, and added 11 rebounds.

Carleton has now won four of the past five Wilson Cup titles, having been defeated last season in the title game by Lakehead. Ryerson was making the second trip to the championship game in club history, having previously lost in the 1999 final.

OUA East Player of the Year Phil Scrubb, of Richmond, B.C., was the only other Raven in double-digit scoring, tallying 13 points.

Carleton outscored Ryerson 48-14 in the second half.

The Ravens out-rebounded the Rams 43-19, and connected on 33 of 64 (51.6%) of field goal attempts.

Ryerson's offence struggled to capitalize, posting a 26.9 shooting percentage (14 of 52) and sinking but one of 14 three-point attempts (7.1%). Ryerson grabbed just three offensive rebounds in the entire game. Jahmal Jones, of Mississauga, Ontario, was the lone Ram in double-digit scoring, amassing 11 points and scoring Ryerson's lone three-pointer.

The 43-point marked the most lop-sided Wilson Cup final since the championship game became a regular fixture in 1966, surpassing the previous mark of 40 points set when Ottawa defeated Western 88-48 in 1993. Ryerson's performance was also the lowest point total of a Wilson Cup participant since 1966, breaking a mark previously held by Carleton in a 77-41 defeat to Western in the 1988 final.

Ryerson struggled out of the gates, posting a mediocre 20% shooting percentage (3 of 15) in the first quarter. Carleton had no such initial problems, connecting on nine of 17 field goal attempts (52.9%), including five three-pointers, to emerge from the first frame with a 23-11 lead.

Ryerson's defence tightened up in the second quarter, holding the Ravens to 11 points and narrowing Carleton's lead to34-25 at half-time.

The Rams' defensive rally was short-lived, and Carleton utterly controlled the third quarter, outscoring their opponents 27-6. Ryerson sunk an abysmal one of 12 field goal attempts (8.3%) in the third frame and managed to secure not a single offensive rebound. Carleton's dominance continued through the fourth quarter, returning the Ravens to the top of the OUA podium after a one-year absence.

Both teams advance to the CIS Final 8 in Halifax, N.S., hosted by Atlantic University Sport from March 9 to 11.
 
OUA MEN'S BASKETBALL FINAL FOUR RESULTS
All games at University of Waterloo PAC
 
Friday, March 2

Semifinal 1: Ryerson Rams 86, Lakeshead Thunderwolves 70
Semifinal 2: Carleton Ravens 80, McMaster Marauders 56
 
Saturday, March 3

Wilson Cup final: Carleton Ravens 82, Ryerson Rams 39

Source: Ian Speers for OUA

SASKATOON - Duncan Jones 40 points helped push the University of Saskatchewan Huskies past the University of Victoria Vikes 90-85 in the bronze medal game of the Canada West Men's Basketball Final Four Saturday night at the PAC in Saskatoon.

Jones, playing in his final Canada West playoff game, had a career-high 40 points going 13-17 from the field and a career-best nine 9-10 from beyond the arc.  Jones hit three, three pointers in the final five minutes of the third quarter helping the Huskies to nine point lead at the quarter break.  From there the Huskies were able to hold on and beat the Vikes to win the bronze.  With the win the Huskies claim their third Canada West medal in three years.

Victoria made a fourth quarter push but it was too little too late for the Vikes.  Fifth-year guard Ryan Mackinnon was fouled while shooting a three-pointer and converted all three free throws making the score 86-84 with 1:10 remaining.  That was as close as Victoria would get as they unable to make a field goal in the final minute of play.

Two other Huskies reached double digit point totals on the night.  Fifth year forward Michael Lieffers finished with 18 points and 16 rebounds giving him another double-double on the season.  First year forward Matthew Forbes finished with 11 points, while fourth year guard Jamelle Barrett lead the Huskies with eight assists.

MacKinnon led the Vikes offensively scoring 24 points.  Fourth year guard Michael Acheampong and third year forward Terrell Evans also reached double digits for the Vikes scoring 15 points and 12 points respectively.

Both Saskatchewan and Victoria will be considered for the Wild Card berth at the 2012 CIS Men’s Basketball Championship.

Source: Saskatchewan Sports Info

SASKATOON - Daniel Ferguson’s late fourth quarter three pointers powered the Alberta Golden Bears past the University of Fraser Valley Cascades 72-71 in the gold medal game of the Canada West Final Saturday night at the PAC in Saskatoon.

It is the first conference title for the Golden Bears since 2004-05 and 11th since 1965.

In a back and forth game that saw 14 ties and 14 lead changes the Golden Bears put together a fourth quarter surge to come from behind and defeat the Cascades. 

With just under three minutes left, Ferguson hit a three pointer to bring the Bears to within one point.  On their next trip down the floor, Matthew Cardoza converted a jump shot giving the Golden Bears the lead at 68-67 with 1:58 remaining.  The game went back and forth until Ferguson hit another clutch three pointer with 41 seconds giving the Golden Bears a 72-71 lead.   Ferguson’s shot was the eventual game winner.

With nine seconds left the Cascades had the ball and a chance to win the game.  Fraser Valley had an open look for three from Jordan Blackman but his shot went long into the hands of Jasper Moet who put the ball in just after time expired.

 Ferguson led the Bears in the game with 25 points, while Jordan Baker added another 21 points.  On the boards the Golden Bears were led by Todd Bergen Henengouwen with nine rebounds.

The Cascades spread out their offense with four players reaching double digits.  Michael James led the way with 14 points.  He was joined by forward Jasper Moedt and Jordan Blackman, who scored 12 points and 10 points respectively. Kyle Grewal finished with 13 points and a team high 10 rebounds to record a double-double.

Both the Golden Bears and Cascades will travel to the CIS Championship next weekend in Halifax. This was the first time in school history that the University of Fraser Valley Cascades were in the Canada West Championship.

Source: Saskatchewan Sports Info