Friday 8 October 2010

Guelph 76, Fraser Valley 73

5'11" Kareem Malcolm made his first CIS game a very memorable one, hitting a game-winning, buzzer-beating three pointer to lift host Guelph a victory over the Cascades.  Malcolm, who finished with a game-high 27 points and added 6 rebounds, came off a ball screen and drilled the clutch shot, culminating a Gryphon comeback from being down double digits early in the game.

The Cascades guards put pressure on Guelph all evening as 6'4" Joel Freisen, who led Fraser Valley with 24 points, continually got himself to the rim and the foul line with slick drives off the bounce and fellow guard 5'10" Zeon Gray came alive in the second half after sitting for long stretches early due to some foul trouble.  Star wing 6'3" Sam Freeman finished 0-7 from the field for the Cascades, who were outrebounded 40-28.

After trailing big early, Guelph went to work inside against the younger Fraser Valley front line beset by early season injuries as 6'6" Windsor transfer Kevin Cameron, working himself back into game shape, had 8 points/7 rebounds as did 6'8" sophomore John Brutto.  The nice work by the bigs and Malcolm allowed Guelph to climb to within 2 at 42-40 by halftime.

6'4" Jonathan Moscatelli had his troubles going 3-13 including just 1-7 3's while turning it over 6 times for Guelph while the Gryphs got another consistently strong performance from third-year wing Dan McCarthy with 12 points and 6 rebounds and a strong defensive effort.

However the story was Sheridan College transfer Malcolm, a long armed offensive force who was able to push the Gryphs to tonight's win.

The Gryphs host Manitoba tomorrow afternoon at 3 PM while Fraser Valley meets Brock in St. Catharines tomorrow afternoon and McMaster Sunday afternoon in Hamilton.  Guelph completes their weekend with a game at home against UBC Thunderbirds on Sunday afternoon.

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