Box Score The Marauder men's basketball team  stayed close for a half of the game, but faltered over the final two quarters in a 83-62 loss to visiting Waterloo on Saturday in Hamilton.  The game marked the return of former Marauder player and assistant coach Justin Gunter, who was making his first appearance in the Burridge Gym as Waterloo's head coach.
 
After trailing 5-1 to start the game, McMaster went on an 11-0 run with six minutes remaining in the quarter to pull ahead by seven. However, Waterloo responded with a 12-2 run of its own and by the end of the first quarter the Warriors had a 19-18 lead.
 
The second stanza saw the teams trade baskets, with neither being able to gain a substantial edge.  But Waterloo had a late charge to end the quarter, and the Marauders went into the break trailing 36-31, having shot just 2 for11 from beyond the arc.
 
Coming out to start the third, the Marauders scored two quick baskets to tie the game up at 36 apiece, but a turnover on the next possession took the momentum away from Mac, and Waterloo went on a 9-1 run after to take an eight-point lead.
 
The Marauders couldn't keep Nedim Hodzic off of the line in the third quarter, as he attempted eight of his game high 14 free-throws in the third, converting on seven of them.  After 30 minutes the Marauders trailed 59-48
 
With all the momentum behind the visitors, Waterloo started the fourth quarter on a 9-3 run giving them a 17-point cushion with just under seven minutes remaining. The Marauders were unable to mount any kind of offense to come back and the Warriors closed out the 21-point victory.
 
David McCulloch led the Marauders in scoring with 13 points, while Lazar Kojovic and Connor Gilmore each scored 10 points.  Rohan Boney played 14 minutes in his return from his two-game injury absence, scoring five points and adding a team-high four assists.
 
The Marauders will go up against the Algoma Thunderbirds next Saturday (Feb. 11), as they hope to snap their three-game losing skid.  The tip-off is set for 8-pm and the team will honour the graduating seniors on this year's squad.
 
All the action can be streamed online at OUA.tv, and is on radio on CFMU 93.3FM.
 
By Jonah Tuck