CIS Hoops.ca

See previous post on Laurier's win over Concordia in the championship game of the NIKE Invitational in Montreal...

Brandon 86, Lakehead 78... The Bobcats made it a split of the two-game weekend series in Thunder Bay as 6'4" Kyle Vince led all scorers with 27 points including 5 3's while 6'2" Andrew Kraus added 21 also with 5 3's. The Cats shot 13-27 from three-point land overall. Brandon led by as many as 13 however Lakehead stayed in the game behind 6'6" Yoosrie Salhia (25 points/7 rebounds/10-16 shooting) who led a T-Wolves assault on the offensive glass (15 "o" boards on the night) allowing Lakehead to get back to within 1 with 2 minutes remaining. From there, Kraus took over, knocking down his final two 3's and draw-and-kicking with Vince for his fifth three as the 'Cats won without 6'3" All-Canadian Dany Charlery, who still has not practiced this season due to a groin injury. Charlery is expected to begin training again this week with the Cats. Brandon was also without 6'0" Jelanie Deliovsky (Hamilton) out with a charley horse. 6'6" Andrew Hackner and 6'0" Jamie Searle added 13 points apiece for Lakehead and Searle was again impressive shooting the ball after a big effort in T-Wolves win on Friday. Brandon got nice performances from emerging 6'11" freshman James Elias (8 points/8 rebounds) who continues to improve virtually each day and 6'1" U.S. import Terrill Thomas (Chicago) who had 14 points and is definitely in the mix at both guard spots. Lakehead's Joe Jones went 1-8, one night after making three big 3's down the stretch which was the key to Lakehead's victory on Friday night.

McMaster 83, Alberta 69... A night after struggling with nerves and "trying to do too much" as his coach theorized earlier in the day, 6'6" Keenan Jeppesen showed glimpses of what could be a return to Mac basketball really mattering again by taking the game over early in the fourth quarter to lead the Marauders to the win against a tough Golden Bear squad. With Mac leading by 1 at 55-54 after 3 quarters, Jeppesen was the difference to lift Mac to a double digit lead and win, finishing with 21 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 steals. Once again, 6'7" Ryan Christie was a big difference maker at both ends, blocking 6 shots, adding 11 points/6 rebounds. 5'11" Jermaine DeCosta, who appears to be stepping up in the face of new competition for Mac's lead guard spot, took advantage of Alberta's questionable situation at point guard, ball hawking the Bears handlers and making things difficult to get their offense started, nabbing 6 steals in addition to his 18 points and 7 assists. 6'2" Tyrell Vernon hit a pair of threes as part of his 12 point night as Mac, despite shooting horribly from the line overall (24-46/52%) made some key free throws down the stretch to maintain their lead.

The Bears have an emerging star in 6'7" freshman Jordan Baker, rapidly emerging in the discussion as top freshman in Canada, who displayed a tremendous all-round game with his court savvy, shooting ability, passing and general decision making, finishing with 18 points and 5 rebounds from the 3 spot. Jamaal Bucknor had 16 points and 5 rebounds to help the Bears. After a solid effort last night against Toronto, 5'11" Scott Leigh scored only 3 points in 20 minutes and was generally neutralized by the Mac backcourt. Leigh has been thrust into the point guard spot but is more of a natural two guard and it appears one of new Head Coach Greg Francis's early-season challenges is finding someone who can deal with ball pressure and get Alberta's offense started. The Bears again defended well as a group and it appears Coach Francis has already put his mark on this group which should only get better.

Alberta plays their final game of their three-day, three-game tour of Southern Ontario tomorrow afternoon back in Toronto against Ryerson Rams at Kerr Hall at 1 PM.

Findlay (OH.) College 86, Brock 82... From Orange and Black attack site, Freshman Aaron Robinson drained a 3-pointer with 4:05 left in the third quarter and the University of Findlay never looked back as it edged Brock 86-82 in the second game of its exhibition tour through Canada Saturday afternoon. The Oilers were down 38-36 at halftime and trailed 52-51 before the rookie guard hit a trey. Robinson drained 2 treys in the game and finished with 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the floor. But it was another freshman who made the biggest impact in the win as forward Jack Smith lit up the Badgers for 29 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the field. Smith pulled down 6 rebounds as well as the defending NCAA Division II champions improved to 2-0 in exhibition play. Junior guard and former Liberty-Benton standout Nathan Hyde pumped in 14 points and sophomore forward Greg Avery scored 12 points as well. Senior point guard Marcus Parker scored only 6 points but he tallied 1 assist and 3 steals. UF shot 44 percent (29-of-66) from the floor and hit 40 percent (6-of-15) of its 3-point attempts. The Oilers forced 14 turnovers. The Badgers connected on 41 percent (29-of-71) of their shots and Clinton Springer-Williams led the way with 30 points. He scored 14 of his points from the free-throw line.

The Oilers will wrap up their trip Sunday with a 2 p.m. game against Toronto. UF will be back in action on Nov. 3 when it travels to Durham for a 7 p.m. exhibition game against Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

St. FX 77, UNB 75... 6'5" Chad Warren hit a three pointer with 21 seconds remaining, giving X their first lead of the second half, which turned out to be the winning shot, as the X-Men went to 2-0 at the Eric Garland tourney at UNB. X played without usual starters Charlie Spurr and Will Silver and got only two minutes out of key reserve Will Donkoh, forcing X coach Steve Konchalski into a makeshift starting lineup with Jordan Hope and Warren making their first career starts. However, UNB is a much deeper, more experienced squad than last season and were in the game to the very end. 5'10" Christian "T-Bear" Upshaw led X with 27 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists in 34 minutes while 6'5" Jeremy Dunn authored another double/double of 13 points, 11 rebounds. The night was also a coming out party for 6'3" Jordan Clarke, a freshman from Oakville Holy Trinity who played 30 minutes off the bench and finished with 14 points, 3 rebounds and only 3 turnovers. More importantly, Clarke was able to take the pressure off Upshaw, who was doubled at virtually every opportunity up the floor by the aggressive V-Reds. But Clarke was well up to the task, showing his flair for knifing through traffic and great athleticism and feel for the game. Big, strong 6'6" Colton Wilson ended with 25 points and 8 rebounds for the Reds, generally having his way inside and getting to the foul line. Konchalski called the game a "...character win. UNB is a very improved ball club playing with more confidence under Coach Baker and is much deeper, so we are very happy with the effort." UNB led by one at 39-38 at halftime. X goes for the tournament championship tomorrow at 11 PM AT against UQAM, which pounded Lee Academy 95-58 earlier today.

Brandon/Lakehead summary to come...