In battle of two top OUA West teams the #2 McMaster Marauders closed out the game on 11-0 run to outlasted the #4 Windsor Lancers 77-67 to advance to the 2012 OUA Men’s Final Four Conference Championships.
Rookie-of-the-year candidate Aaron RedPath led all scores with 21 points including a key defensive steal that led to a hoop and the foul basket that essentially put the game out of reach for the Marauders.
Mac created some separation with 7-0 run to begin the all-important final quarter and held a seven point cushion at 58-51. The Lancers who struggled from downtown (6/30 20%) regrouped after a timeout by drilling consecutive three pointers to cut the deficit.
Josh Collins then step up after Enrico Diloreto went to bench with his fifth and final foul for arguing a call with the referee by connecting on another three-pointer and adding more from the foul-line to give Windsor a 67-66 lead with 1:58 remaining.
Joe Rocca quickly responded with a nice one-one isolation basket to put the home-side back on top and senior Cam Michaud drove to the basket for a tough lay-up to force another Lancers time and set-up Redpath’s key play.
Philip Lien pulled down 19 rebounds (10 offensive) and finished with 11 points to end a stellar season for the Lancers.
The win allows the Marauders to advance to the 2012 Wilson Cup Final Four championships next weekend against a yet to be determined opponent.
