Hamilton, Ont. - The McMaster men's basketball team earned their sixth win of the 2011-12 season on Friday night over the Toronto Varsity Blues. This marks the first time in eight games that the Marauders have beaten the Blues dating back to January 9, 2009. Four different Marauders reached double-digits in the 78-60 win.

In the fast-paced first quarter, both teams brought out their best early on with deep shots and reverse lay-ups and at the six minute mark, the Marauders found themselves with a team point lead at 17-7. As the pace settled down though, the Blues went on an 11-0 run  due to a number of Marauder fouls that put the home team in bonus early on. The Blues would go up 18-17 before Victor Raso (Hamilton, Ont.) would sink a deep two-pointer from the end line to regain the lead 19-8. At the end of the first, the Blues would take a one point lead and Raso would be on the board with nine points. 

In the second, both teams were tied up at 22 when Satar Wahidi (Ancaster, Ont.) put McMaster ahead with a three-pointer. The game remained between one and two points with each team taking the leads throughout the quarter. With 1:15 left on the clock, Cam Michaud (Grimsby, Ont.) would connect for the three for the Marauders to go up 38-35 and the half would end with McMaster leading by five 40-38. 

The third quarter saw the Marauders start to pull away with the lead. About half way through, McMaster lead extended to 13 points thanks to another three from Raso. With a minute left in the quarter, rookie Aaron Redpath (Ajax, Ont.) would sink another three for the Marauders as the quarter ended 63-46.

The Marauders would finish out the game with a score of 78-60. Despite scoring being even in the fourth with McMaster scoring 15 points and Toronto scoring 14, the Blues couldn't find a way to get past McMaster defence and would take the loss.

Arun Kumar was named Toronto's  Player of the Game for his 13 points and four assists.

For McMaster, Raso earned a game-high 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds on the night. Michaud added another 12 and recorded six rebounds, second-year Taylor Black (Stoney Creek, Ont.) would have another 11 for McMaster and Wahidi would add another 10. McMaster's Player of the Game honours went out to rookie point guard Adam Presutti (Oakville, Ont.).

The Marauders host the Ryerson Rams on Saturday night at Burridge Gymnasium at 8:00 p.m. in their last game before the break.