HAWKS HOST OCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

TORONTO - The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) is down to its final four in men's basketball, with all remaining teams headed to the North Campus of Humber Polytechnic in Toronto's north-west end for the OCAA Men's Basketball Championship.

The top two seeds from each division have survived two OCAA elimination rounds to make it to Etobicoke. This includes the undefeated West Division champion Humber Hawks, East Division champion Durham Lords, and No. 2 seeds St. Clair Saints and Georgian Grizzlies.

The OCAA semi-finals take place on Saturday, leading into Sunday's medal matches. The OCAA champion and silver medalist moves on to the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Basketball National Championship in Saint-Laurent, Que., from Mar. 12-15.

Georgian (16-2, 2nd East) vs. Humber (18-0, 1st West)

Saturday, Mar. 1 - 3:30 p.m.

The reigning OCAA champion Humber Hawks are two wins away on home court from successfully defending their title. The Hawks enter the semi-final on a 28-game winning streak in OCAA-sanctioned games dating back to Jan. 20, 2024. Humber has not lost a game in Etobicoke since November, 2023.

The Hawks feature All-Canadian fourth-year power forward Malik Grant (Brampton). Grant averaged a team-high 16.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game during the regular season and maintained an excellent assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.1.

The Georgian Grizzles are one win away from a historic first-ever OCAA medal. The Grizzlies have advanced to the OCAA's final four for the first time since 2011 on the strength of a 13-game winning streak dating back to last November.

Second-year guard Jason Sache (Kanata) scored 42 points and grabbed 15 rebounds from the bench in Georgian's commanding 106-85 quarter-final victory over the Sheridan Bruins last Saturday.

The winner of this semi-final not only competes for OCAA gold, but advances to the national championship.

St. Clair (16-2, 2nd West) vs. Durham (17-1, 1st East)

Saturday, Mar. 1 - 6 p.m.

The second semi-final features a rematch of last year's OCAA bronze medal game. The Durham Lords defeated the St. Clair Saints on that occasion as the two teams are set to renew acquaintances once again.

The Lords feature All-Canadian Mark Stoop (Oshawa). The fourth-year forward averaged 11.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 18 regular season games for the Lords. Stoop recorded a double-double with 13 points and 12 boards in Durham's 98-87 quarter-final victory over the Mohawk Mountaineers last Saturday.

The Saints have an All-Canadian of their own in Mazin Tiea (Windsor). The fourth-year forward averaged 16.3 points per game with a field goal percentage of 61.9 in 16 regular season games. Tiea also averaged a league-high 2.9 blocks per game.

The Lords and Saints combined for three regular season losses, all coming against the other two semi-final teams. St. Clair won the OCAA championship in 2023, while Durham's last provincial crown came in 1997.

The winner of this semi-final not only competes for the OCAA title, but advances to the national championship.

Championship Website: www.ocaa.com/mbb25

Live Webcast: ocaa.live

Saturday, March 1
Semi-Finals
S-F #1: Georgian vs. Humber - 3:30 p.m.
S-F #2: St. Clair vs. Durham - 6 p.m.

Sunday, March 2
Bronze Medal Match
Loser Semi-Final #1 vs. Loser Semi-Final #2 - 1 p.m.
Winning team presented OCAA Bronze Medal at conclusion of match

Gold Medal Match
Winner Semi-Final #1 vs. Winner Semi-Final #2 - 3:30 p.m.
OCAA Gold and Silver Medals presented at conclusion of match

- OCAA -

ABOUT ONTARIO COLLEGES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

For over 50 years, the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association has been a dedicated leader in amateur athletics through the provision of quality varsity and recreational athletic opportunities at the collegiate level.

For additional information please contact:
Josh Bell-Webster
Marketing and Communications
Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
Tel: 416-426-7041
E-mail: bell-webster@ocaa.com