Box Score The Marauder men’s basketball team used a balanced attack and some stifling defense to subdue the Waterloo Warriors 81-56 on Saturday afternoon at the Burridge Gym.  The win was the fifth straight for the men in Maroon.

Boasting a size advantage over the Warriors, McMaster looked to go inside early in the game and that strategy worked out as Mac jumped into a 23-12 lead before Waterloo made two late buckets to close the gap to 23-17.

The second quarter saw the Marauders turn up the “D” as they allowed Waterloo few good looks at the basket and no second-chance opportunities.  McMaster built the lead up to 35-17, and it wasn’t until there was 1:40 left in the period that Waterloo scored its first points.  The Marauders went over eight minutes off the game clock without allowing a score.  Waterloo’s Jaspreet Gill made two late three’s to get back some, but at halftime the Maroon held a 40-26 advantage.

Coming out for the third quarter, the Marauders went on another scoring run behind the play of Joe Rocca, who scored the first nine points of the period to boost the lead up to 23.  The Marauders kept the pressure on and by the end of the third, the lead had grown to 66-38.

Able to use the bench in the final stanza, McMaster spread the ball around and got solid production across the roster.  With all 12 players seeing court time, the Marauders brought home the 25-point win.

The BIG Mac player of the game was Joe Rocca, who finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds for his second straight double-double effort.  Other double digit contributors were Aaron Redpath with 16, Nathan McCarthy with 13, Taylor Black with 11 and Rohan Boney with 10.  Waterloo was led by Jaspreet Gill and Wayne Bridge, who each scored 14.

McMaster absolutely dominated the glass, out-rebounding the Warriors 46-21.

McMaster improves to 12 and 7 in the OUA West, and will next face the powerful Lakehead Thunderwolves on February 15 and 16 at the Burridge Gym.    The two game set will have significant bearing on the standings in the division.  

Tip-off both nights is at 8 p.m.