OCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP COMES TO WINDSOR

WINDSOR, Ont. - The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) is down to its final four in men's basketball, with all remaining teams headed to St. Clair College's south campus in Windsor, Ont., for the OCAA Men's Basketball Championship.

The top three seeds from the West Division have survived two OCAA elimination rounds along with an upstart team from the East Division. The host St. Clair Saints, the West Division champions, will be joined by the defending national champion Humber Hawks, as well as the Mohawk Mountaineers and the Loyalist Lancers.

The OCAA semi-finals take place on Friday, leading into Saturday's medal matches. The OCAA champion and silver medalist moves on to the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Basketball National Championship in Nanaimo, B.C., from Mar. 18-21.

The championship will feature a pair of 2025-26 All-Canadians in Humber fifth-year small forward Malik Grant (Brampton) and Mohawk fourth-year forward Marko Dosen (Hamilton). Fifth-year forward Mazin Tiea (Windsor) of St. Clair won the honours last year.

All games will be streamed for free on OCAA LIVE.

Loyalist Lancers, Belleville (11-7, 5th East) vs Humber Hawks, Toronto (15-3, 2nd West)
Friday, Mar. 6 - 5 p.m.

The defending national champions are one win away from earning a return ticket to the CCAA championship.

Despite a strong regular season, the Humber Hawks have been living on the edge this post-season. The Hawks allowed their lead to be cut to six with just 1:28 remaining but pulled out a 94-84 win over a spirited Fleming Phoenix on Feb. 21. A week later, Humber squeezed out an 84-83 win over the Durham Lords, a rematch of last year's OCAA gold medal game.

Humber first-year point guard Nathaniel Savage (Toronto) scored a game-high 47 points in the two playoff wins. Grant led the Hawks in scoring averaging 19.1 points per game, while fourth-year small forward Adrian Aluyi (Toronto) was the top rebounder averaging 6.8 boards per game.

Four East Division teams finished above the Loyalist Lancers in the final regular season standings, but only they have advanced to this weekend's OCAA championship.

The Lancers first traveled to Lambton and defeated the Lions 80-74 on Feb. 22. Loyalist then found itself the higher seed in their quarter-final meeting with the Sheridan Bruins, taking advantage of its home court to win 94-89 last Sunday. Now they are one win away from not only an OCAA medal, but a trip to nationals.

Third-year player Jalen Carter Julien (Scarborough) has led the way offensively for the Lancers with 38 points in the two playoff games. Loyalist fifth-year guard Romain McCalla (Durham) was the top scorer in the league during the regular season averaging 25.6 points per game. Julien led Loyalist in rebounding averaging 7.1 boards per game.

Humber last won the OCAA championship two seasons ago. Loyalist's only OCAA title was a Division II crown in 1993.

Mohawk Mountaineers, Hamilton (13-5, 3rd West) vs St. Clair Saints, Windsor (15-3, 1st West)
Friday, Mar. 6 - 7:30 p.m.

It's a rubber match with incredible stakes.

The Mohawk Mountaineers and St. Clair Saints met twice during the regular season, both coming away with a home victory. Now each team is 40 minutes away from a trip not only to the OCAA gold medal game, but CCAA nationals as well.

St. Clair easily handled the St. Lawrence Surge 130-66 in the opening round before pulling out a come-from-behind 93-89 quarter-final win over the Seneca Sting on Feb. 28. The Saints were outscored 34-12 in the third quarter against the Sting, necessitating the comeback.

Tiea has led the Saints with 41 points in the two post-season victories. St. Clair fifth-year guard Jacob Masters (Toronto) led St. Clair in offence during the regular season averaging 15.3 points per game. Tiea was the team's top rebounder averaging 5.9 boards per game.

Mohawk's path to the OCAA final four began with an 86-79 home victory over the Algonquin Wolves on Feb. 21. Seven days later, the Mountaineers trekked to Centennial and handed the Colts a 99-92 overtime loss.

Fourth-year forwards Jerry Jr Mercury (Scarborough) and Dosen share the Mohawk lead in playoff points scoring 33 each over two games. Dosen led the Mountaineers in scoring and rebounding during the regular season averaging 16.5 points and 8.4 boards per game.

St. Clair last won the OCAA title back in 2023. Mohawk hopes to scratch an 11-year itch, having last won the provincial gold medal in 2015.

Championship Website: www.ocaa.com/championships/mbkb/2025-26/index

Live Webcast: www.ocaa.com/live

Friday, March 6
Semi-Finals
Semi-Final #1: Loyalist vs. Humber - 5 p.m.
Semi-Final #2: Mohawk vs. St. Clair - 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 7
Bronze Medal Game
Loser Semi-Final #1 vs. Loser Semi-Final #2 - 2:30 p.m.
Winning team presented OCAA Bronze Medal at conclusion of game

Gold Medal Game
Winner Semi-Final #1 vs. Winner Semi-Final #2 - 5 p.m.
OCAA Gold and Silver Medals presented at conclusion of game

- OCAA -

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For nearly 60 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