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In a dramatic finish, 6'3" Algonquin transfer Luke Minani's steal and subsequent lay-in with about 35 seconds remaining gave the Gee-Gees the lead for good and 6'6" Warren Ward then clinched it with a pair of free throws to lead uOttawa at Dalplex in Halifax.  6'1" Simon Farine's open look from the baseline on the final possession would have tied it for the Tigers, but like last week's last-second shot against Laurier, the shot came off and Ottawa escaped with the upset win.

The Gee-Gees came back from a six point halftime deficit and appeared to have the game in control up 4 with three minutes left in the fourth when Ottawa's 6'9" Louis Gauthier was whistled for a foul on a Farine drive into the lane.  Gauthier disputed the decision and was assessed a "T".  Three free throws and a lay-up by 6'9" Joe Schow on the ensuing possession gave Dal the lead back.  The game see-sawed back and forth until the final lead change on Minani's big steal near half court and break away lay-up. 

Schow was very effective for Dal, leading the Tigers with 14 points and 5 rebounds while fellow forward 6'7" Sandy Viet added 11 points, 7 rebounds.  6'4" freshman Alex Arthur added 10 points in 13 minutes off the bench for the Tigers with all his scoring in the first half.  6'3" guard Juleous Grant struggled for Dal, going 1-8 from the floor for 5 points and 2 rebounds in 26 minutes. 

Minani, a long, big guard from Orleans, ON, led the Gee-Gees with 19 points, 3 assists and 2 turnovers in 38 effective minutes, having to shoulder the load at the point with the absence of 6'2" Jacob Gibson-Bascombe (strep throat).  Gauthier also had a strong effort up front with 19 points and 9 rebounds.  Ottawa's 6'2" freshman Johnny Berhane again was effective off the bench with two huge 3's down stretch and 14 points overall.


Ward, who lit up Saint Mary's on Thursday for 37 points, and the rest of the Gee-Gees were completely taken out of their sets in the first half, as Tigers "d" held them to 30 points.  But Ward, who finished with a very effecient 14 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists, then took over in the second half, consistently putting on pressure on Dal's "d" off the dribble, usually drawing help and then finding open teammates with good decisions.

Dal hosts Guelph tomorrow night while Ottawa moves over to Wolfville to face Acadia.