Box Score A late surge was not enough to overcome a costly lapse to open the fourth quarter, as the McMaster Marauders were defeated 81-75 by the Windsor Lancers on Saturday.

The loss ended a 13-game winning streak for the Marauders (16-4), and brought the Lancers (14-5) within four points of the Marauders for first place in the OUA West division.

Joe Rocca and Aaron Redpath led the Marauders with 18 points apiece in a losing effort, while both hitting 50 per cent from three-point range. Leon Alexander chipped in 15, going 5-9 from the floor and a perfect 5-5 from the charity stripe.

The Marauders struggled to find the range on their jump shots in the first quarter, and relied heavily on post play to stay in touch. Alexander spun into the lane and hit an and-one floater, converting on the bonus to give McMaster a 13-12 lead with 4:20 to play in the quarter. But Windsor found its stroke from beyond the arc, and after Alex Campbell sunk deep three from the top, the Lancers led 18-15. With momentum in the home team's corner, Lien Phillip snared an offensive rebound and dropped in a hook shot to beat the buzzer and give Windsor a 21-15 lead.

That lead remained in place for much of the second quarter, but McMaster began to chip away late as Rocca knocked down two triples to bring the Marauders within three. McMaster employed the press to great effect in the final minutes of the half, forcing three consecutive turnovers from Windsor, and paving the way for a game-tying bucket on the final possession. There, the Marauders called time with three seconds to play before successfully finding Nathan Pelech down low, who fought off a defender to lay in a buzzer-beating shot for 36-36.

Rocca enjoyed an efficient first half, scoring a team-leading total of 14 points while going 5-9 from the floor and 4-7 from three point range.

Windsor opened the third quarter on a 6-0 run to retake the lead early. But McMaster once again stayed in touch, thanks in large part to the work of Alexander down low, who hit a turnaround jumper to bring the Marauders within one at 46-45. But the Lancers were getting the better of the visitors on the offensive glass and creating second-chance opportunities. Phillip out-muscled Taylor Black for an easy put-back, as Windsor led 54-50 after three quarters.

The Lancers opened the fourth quarter on a 9-0 run to establish a 13-point lead, with the Marauders choosing ill-advised shots from beyond the arc. Enrico Diloreto lifted his play in the fourth, following a mid-range jumper with an and-one lay in to maintain the Windsor lead midway through the quarter. McMaster's long-range game improved in the late stages, as Redpath sunk a corner three to bring the Marauders within 10 points with three minutes to play. He followed with a beautiful reverse layup to further reduce the deficit.

Alexander followed a lay up in transition with two free throws to bring the Marauders within five points at 77-72, and Redpath made it a three-point game with yet another triple with 13 seconds to play. But a late turnover proved costly, as Diloreto hit two free throws to effectively ice the game.