Box Score The McMaster men's basketball team ran its OUA record to 11 and 3, after a tough 86-74 win over the Guelph Gryphons on Wednesday night in Guelph.

Meeting as Central Division rivals for the first time, it was Guelph that started fast, jumping out to a 10-4 lead and getting the healthy home crowd fully involved.  The Marauders responded and a lay-up by Trevon McNeil put McMaster in front 14-12 midway through the opening period.    The teams were tied 18-18, when McMaster got a late bucket to take a 20-18 lead after one quarter.

McMaster scored six quick points to start the second stanza, forcing Guelph to call a timeout.  That seemed to settle the Gryphons who closed within one possession at 29-26 at the midway point.  The Marauders then scored seven straight and held a 10-point advantage at 36-26, their biggest lead of the half.   Guelph fought to stay close and a buzzer-beater by Gryphon Trevor Thompson brought the McMaster lead down to 39-33 at halftime.

Guelph started the third like it started the game, and again closed the gap to a single possession at 44-41.  Thompson continued to have the hot hand for Guelph, scoring 10 in the quarter.  However, the Marauders had their own rally and after letting Guelph get close, they ended the quarter with a 65-57 lead.

The Marauders jumped up the intensity in the fourth, scoring the first seven points and forcing Guelph to call timeout, now down by 15.   McMaster kept up the pressure and the Gryphon shots were not falling.  The biggest margin for the Maroon was 17 at 85-68.   Aaron Redpath was sizzling in the final quarter and scored 11 of his 23 points en route to the win.

Redpath's 23 was a game high and included him making 5 of his 7 attempts from beyond the arc.  Leon Alexander and Adam Presutti each scored 14, and Taylor Black had an off-night shooting, but still chipped in 9 points and grabbed a team high 11 rebounds.  Thompson finished with 19 to lead Guelph.

In what was a very physical and chippy game at times, that saw five technical fouls called, McMaster won the battle of the boards 44-29.

The Marauders will now head to Toronto for a tough contest with the Varsity Blues, on Saturday, January 31st.  Tip is at 3 p.m.