Game 1: VIU Mariners 92, MSVU Mystics 80

The opening game of the CCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship saw the defending champion VIU Mariners defeat the MSVU Mystics, 92-80.

Despite trailing for most of the first half, VIU was able to put together a late run to tie things up 44-44 heading into the halftime break. Cameron Gay helped spark the run, putting up a team-high 16 points in the first half.

The Mariners started the second half strong opening things up with a 10-0 run to grab the momentum. VIU outscored MSVU by 15-points in the third taking a double-digit lead into the fourth. The Mystics failed to recapture the lead falling to the Mariners in the tournament opener.

Cameron Gay finished the game with 32 points, six assists and four steals, and was named player of the game for VIU. Joel McCrossin had a double-double on 16 points and 10 rebounds to earn the award for MSVU.

Players of the Game: Cameron Gay, VIU and Joel McCrossin, MSVU

Game 2: St. Clair Saints 93, Dawson Blues 92

The St. Clair Saints captured game two of the CCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship, completing a dramatic comeback to book their spot in the semi-finals

Dawson came out of the gate hot, putting up 29 points in the opening quarter, taking a 13-point lead after one.

St. Clair trailed by as much as 20 points early in the third quarter. The Saints put together a late run to end the third, bringing the Blues lead down to just eight points.

The momentum carried over into the fourth for St.Clair, as they went on a 10-0 run to capture their first lead of the game. The two teams went back and forth down the stretch trading baskets until the final moments.

Down by one with just 4.2 seconds left St. Clair inbounded the ball and got a shot up, Jalen Harmons’ attempt would come up short but an acrobatic putback by Chad Vincent-Simon found the net giving St. Clair the lead and ultimately the game.

Jesiah Deerr was named player of the game for the Saints finishing with19 points and five rebounds, while Renoldo Robinson was named player of the game for Dawson as he recorded a double-double on 28 points and 16 rebounds.

Players of the Game: Jesiah Deerr, St. Clair and Renoldo Robinson, Dawson

Game 3: Humber Hawks 88, Capilano Blues 78

CCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship host Humber Hawks started the tournament with an 88-78 win against the Capilano Blues.

Humber came out the gates hot, going on a 16-0 run to start the game capturing the early momentum.

The second quarter was tightly contested as the Blues looked to get back into the game. Humber outscored Capilano by just one in the quarter taking a 17-point lead into the half.

Capilano opened the third quarter strong, going on an 8-0 run to get withing 10 points for the first time since the first quarter. Both sides traded baskets down the stretch of the third with Humber ended the quarter now up 12 points.

The Blues again chipped away at the Hawks lead getting within two possessions halfway through the fourth. Humber answered back almost immediately, pushing their lead back up to 16 points. That final push would be too much for Capilano to overcome, as Humber took the CCAA quarter-final by a score of, 88-78.

Frank Mitchell recorded a double-double on 18 points and 24 rebounds and was named player of the game for Humber. Sam Bailey was named player of the game for Capilano finishing with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Player of the Game: Frank Mitchell, Humber and Sam Bailey, Capilano

Game 4: SAIT Trojans 75, Thetford 72

The last game of the day featured the Cégep de Thetford and SAIT Trojans. The Trojans set the pace from the opening whistle, taking an early lead and carrying it to the end of the game.

On multiple occasions Thetford look like they were poised to make a comeback, but SAIT had an answer every step of the way. The Trojans closed the first half up by eight and extended their lead to nine heading into the fourth.

Thetford fought the entire night, finally tying the game back up with just under two minutes to play. The two sides traded triples with SAIT answered with a final basket with just seconds left to play. A final Thetford attempt bounced off the rim giving the Trojans the victory

Player of the game for the Trojans was Taliik Ross with 12 points and 9 rebounds, while the honours went to Marc-Denault Gabriel for Thetford, with 22 points and 17 rebounds.

Player of the Game: Taliik Ross, SAIT and Marc-Denault Gabriel, Thetford