Wednesday 16 February 2011

Wednesday Night CIS Action

A pair of cross-town rivalry games highlight tonight's schedule as the Battle of Halifax continues at DalPlex with Saint Mary's Huskies meet Dal.  In Waterloo, the Warriors continue to fight for their playoff lives, hosting Laurier Golden Hawks, looking to cement their hold on second place in the OUA West.  In a game with larger playoff implications, Guelph Gryphons visit Brock in St. Catharines with the winner likely becoming the favorite for the sixth and final playoff spot and an opportunity to likely play at Laurier in the first round.  McMaster Marauders try to sweep the Lancers as they visit the St. Denis Center to face resurgent Windsor.

AUS
Saint Mary's at Dalhousie 8:00 PM AST   The Huskies are still looking for that one victory that should clinch a playoff spot while the Tigers are playing their best basketball of the season.  Saint Mary's won both prior AUS league games in this cross-town battle, taking a pair at home at the Tower earlier in the season.  The teams will play one more game against each other prior to the playoffs, once again at Dalhousie.  6'1" Simon Farine vs. 6'1" Joey Haywood has the makings of a tremendous offensive battle however expect the Tigers to assign 6'2" Stephen Lopez to Haywood, the leading scorer in the AUS and author of multiple 40+ point games this season.  Saint Mary's needs an answer to 6'9" Joe Schow in the post.  Game should be available on SSN Canada.


OUA West
Guelph at Brock 8:00 PM EST   Both teams come into this game tied at 8-11 along with Waterloo (8-11).  Brock defeated the Gryphons in Guelph by 10 earlier in the year; the Gryphs hold the tiebreaker over Waterloo, which holds the tiebreaker over Brock.  Guelph needs to get strong work out of 6'5" post Jerald Greenidge, especially now that Brock's dynamic 6'6" Mark Gibson is back in the lineup giving Badgers a strong post presence offensively.  The matchup at point guard is interesting with 6'1" Andrew Kraus and 5'11" Mike Petrella; expect Kraus to try to use his size and strength to muscle Petrella, who has had a breakthrough year scoring and distributing (14 assists vs. Mac on Saturday).  6'4" Jonathan Moscatelli, when right - which he definitely was on Saturday - can be a difference maker as a big wing knocking shots down.  Game should be available on SSN Canada.

Laurier at Waterloo 8:00 PM EST  Golden Hawks have not played with the energy and passion that put them squarely in the OUA West first place race until this past week's three-game losing streak.  Laurier should be back to health and meets a Warrior group that is also reeling somewhat.  Waterloo has lost 3 in a row and 8 of their past 11 games, dealing with injuries of their own.  Laurier's ability to get out and run and dominate the offensive glass usually is a bellweather of how successful they can.  Laurier clinches third place with a victory.  Game should be available on SSN Canada.

McMaster at Windsor 8:00 PM EST  Their first meeting was a classic that was tied until late when 6'8" Scott Brittain recovered an errant in-bounds pass and took the ball the lenght of the floor, finishing with a buzzer-beating dunk as the Marauders won at home.  6'3" Isaac Kuon was plagued by foul trouble all night in that game, which began a Lancers 4 game losing streak.  That streak is well in the rear-view mirror as Windsor has come back strong, winning two games handily against Laurier and seemingly getting their shooting touches back.  Marauders are strong work from their young back-court and getting productivity from deep in their bench.  Game should be available on SSN Canada.

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