Hamilton, Ont. - The McMaster Marauders extended their win streak to seven games before the break with a win over the Ryerson Rams. In the 86-70 win, the Marauders now have 14 points and sit atop the OUA West division along with Laurier and Lakehead. 

In the first, the Marauders took an early ten point lead at 20-10 after rookie Aaron Redpath (Ajax, Ont.) shot and scored on a three-pointer. Ryerson would string together a few baskets but more three pointers from the Marauders, namely Nathan Pelech (Mississauga, Ont.) and Redpath kept the McMaster lead at six. The first quarter would end with Joe Rocca (Sarnia, Ont.) drawing a foul on a three-point shot. The rookie would make all three for McMaster to lead 29-23 going into the second. 

Taylor Black (Stoney Creek, Ont.) of the Marauders would be the first to score in the second quarter off of two foul shots. As the Marauders continued to force Ryerson turnovers, A breakaway by Victor Raso (Hamilton, Ont.) would see a two-on-one situation and Redpath would score on the lay-up to extend the lead back to ten points at 33-23. Two more threes from Raso and another from Satar Wahidi (Ancaster, Ont.) with 3:30 left to go in the half earned the Marauders the 43-27 lead. Raso would score one more three before half time to push the McMaster lead to 19 and at halftime the score would read 50-29. 

Halfway through the third quarter, the Marauders maintained their lead with continued turnovers from the Rams. Not allowing Ryerson to get shots off, McMaster's lead would hover around the 15 point mark. Then with 1:35 left in the quarter, Ryerson would get within ten with a jumper from Luke Staniscia (Pefferlaw, Ont.) at 58-48. McMaster would respond though with a block from Black that would turn in to a breakaway lay-up made by Cam Michaud (Grimsby, Ont.). The quarter would end 62-49 in favour of the Marauders with an Adam Presutti (Oakville, Ont.) jumper made at the buzzer.

Two minutes into the fourth, the Rams began to mount a comeback and a three-pointer from Jordan Gauthier (Windsor, Ont.) would get Ryerson within eight. A lay-up from Jahmal Jones (Mississauga, Ont.) would follow to squeeze the gap to six points at 62-56. The Marauders would quickly respond with a three from Rocca and regained the ten point lead with another three from forward Black. 

Around the four minute mark, the Rams got themselves into some trouble as head coach Roy Rana was given a technical foul and that would follow with forward Jelane Pryce (Innisfil, Ont.) getting fouled out. Pryce would serve a technical foul himself which would allow the Marauders to go up 80-66. With a minute left to go and McMaster up by ten, Presutti is fouled, makes both shots and then guard Ola Adegboruwa (Toronto) would also be fouled out due to a technical. The Marauders would close out the game with the win with a score of 86-70. 

Player of the game honours for the Rams went to Staniscia for his 22 points and 14 rebounds. Jones was also effective for the Rams with 15 points and eight assists. Gauthier added 14 points and 10 rebounds for Ryerson and Adegboruwa scored ten more in Ryerson's loss.

For the Marauders, Raso was named Player of the Game for his 23 points and six rebounds on the night. Black and Presutti also reached double digits with 11 points each.