Friday, February 6th saw the Niagara College men's basketball team defeat the visiting Redeemer Royals (9-6, 4th West) 85-80 in front of a loud and energetic crowd at the Welland campus athletic centre. The victory is the Knights' third straight, and moves the team to 6-9 on the season and just two points behind the Sheridan Bruins for the final OCAA West division playoff spot.
The game saw the Knights play some of their best and worst basketball of the 2014-15 season. The second quarter saw the Knights outscore the Royals 30-12, and carry an impressive 51-38 lead into halftime.
The break however, helped the Royals find their rhythm as the team went on an 18-0 run in the third quarter.
Redeemer eventually stretched their lead to as many as 11, before Niagara gradually began to work their way back into the game. A pair of late three point conversions by third year forward Marako Lundy (Nassau, Bahamas) proved to be the turning point as the Knights regained the lead with just over a minute remaining, eventually edging out the five point victory
"Tonight was a big win for our program" said Niagara College men's basketball head coach Keith Vassell. "We played well late and with the game on the line. And despite not competing for a full 40 minutes, we came away with two important points in the standings."
Lundy finished with a team high 21 points, and also added seven rebounds and four steals.
Current Niagara College athlete of the week Delroy Grandison (Kingston, Jamaica) gave the knights another strong performance, recording 15 points, six rebounds, and three blocks.
Second-year guard Aaron Chapman (Huntsville) shot 66% in the contest and finished with 14 points, and rounding out the Knight's double digit scorers was first-year point guard Lequan Hylton who finished with 12 points and 12 assists.
The Knights now sit in seventh place in the OCAA West division just two points behind the Sheridan Bruins for the final playoff spot with one game in hand. Up next the Knights will travel to south western Ontario for a pair of tough road games versus the Lambton Lions and St. Clair Saints.
The Knights return to the Welland campus athletic centre on Friday, February 20th for what could prove to be a critical sudden death matchup against Sheridan at 8:00pm.
