Box Score The McMaster men’s basketball team used tough defense and a balanced attack to beat the visiting York Lions 77-58 in the OUA opener for both teams Friday evening.

McMaster went into the contest minus starting guard Aaron Redpath, who was injured earlier this week in practice.   Stepping in was second-year guard Joe Rocca, who did not look out of place. 
 
With both teams struggling offensively to start the game, they traded baskets and misses and were tied 12-12 after the first quarter.  

The second quarter was a different story as Rocca got rolling and he made several tough shots to help McMaster open a 13-point halftime lead.  Rocca finished with 15 points in the half.

The Lions tried to make a run to start the third quarter, but the Maroon responded well and extended the lead to 59-38 heading into the fourth.   Mac’s Rohan Boney did yeoman work as he had to handle the point at times, and guard York’s all-star David Tyndale.

The fourth quarter saw both teams called for several fouls as play got chippy.  York managed to cut the lead down to 14, but could get no closer as Boney, Nate Pelech, and Scott Laws all made big shots to keep the Maroon in control.  

Joe Rocca was the leading scorer for McMaster with 20, followed by Boney with 16, Laws with 12, and Pelech and Nathan McCarthy each scored 11.  York’s Tyndale did his best to keep his team in the game, finishing with 22.   Rocca was named the McDonald’s Big Mac player of the game for the Marauders.

McMaster is back in action on Saturday, November 10 when the Laurentian Voyageurs come to Hamilton.  The doubleheader in the Burridge Gym starts at 6 p.m. with the women’s game followed by the men at 8 o’clock.