HAMILTON, Ont. - After bowing out of the playoffs in the OUA semi-final last March against the Brock Badgers, the Marauders are set to improve on their 11-5 record from 2021-22 and battle for a spot in the OUA Championship. McMaster will open the season against two eastern basketball powerhouses in the Ottawa Gee-Gees and Carleton Ravens on Friday and Saturday night. Tip-off is set for 8pm both days. The maroon and grey squad has had a strong pre-season picking up big wins against the StFX X-Men, MRU Cougars and Concordia Stingers and will look to build on this momentum headed into the 2022-23 campaign.
   

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Weekend Game Coverage

Watch Live: https://oua.yaretv.com/

Twitter: @McMasterSports

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Season Preview

The Marauders will play the first two games of the 22 game OUA schedule this weekend in Ottawa and will look to start the season in the win column. McMaster will face the Ottawa Gee-Gees, Carleton Ravens, York Lions, Queen's Gaels, TMU Bold, Brock Badgers, Lakehead Thunderwolves, Guelph Gryphons, Ontario Tech Ridgebacks, Laurentian Voyageurs, Nipissing Lakers, Algoma Thunderbirds, Laurier Golden Hawks, Western Mustangs, Windsor Lancers, Toronto Varsity Blues and Waterloo Warriors. The top 12 teams at the end of the season from across the province will earn a spot in the post-season.

"We are looking forward to having a full season! A full preseason including an NCAA contest, playing each team in the OUA and getting the opportunity to play over 30 games this season," says McMaster Head Coach, Patrick Tatham. "So far it's been great for our guys. These student-athletes look forward to playing all of these games and when you get a chance to play a full (normal) schedule, I think we as the coaches are also excited for it."

The Marauders' roster does not include last year's top scorer Jordan Henry, so will look for someone to step up early on. Mike Demagus (Scarborough, Ont.) will be one of the candidates for the maroon and grey's points' leader this season. A fourth-year sociology student, Demagus was an OUA Second Team All-Star in 2021-22, averaging 13.9 points and 24.8 minutes per game. The veteran guard shot 43.2 percent from the field throughout 16 regular season games. Mychael Paulo (Brampton, Ont.) and Sefa Otchere (Niagara Falls, Ont.) will also be key to the Marauders' success this season. 

Transfer student, Cashius McNeilly (Scarborough, Ont.) will look to make an impact this season but is currently sidelined with an injury. Most recently playing at Northern Oklahoma, he averaged 10.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game, while shooting 44 percent from three-point range. McNeilly knocked down five three-point field goals and finished with 22 points in his first game with Northern Oklahoma and scored in double-figures in seven of 12 games played last season. When he returns to the Marauders' lineup, the guard will be able to inject a scoring touch and force the opposition to defend him outside the three-point line.

Tatham has a good group and is excited to see what the team has in store. "This team has very good chemistry! This group of student-athletes might be the best one yet in my four seasons. The difference is we have a large returning group, and they all know what it takes to get to the OUA Final Four. If we can elevate our chemistry, do the necessary things on offense and defense and stay healthy, we have a good shot at making it to the OUA Championship game and punching our ticket to a U SPORTS Final 8."

All of McMaster's regular season home games will be broadcast live on OUA.tv free of charge. Tickets for the Marauders' home games are available for purchase at www.marauders.ca/tickets.
     

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2022-23 McMaster Marauders Men's Basketball Schedule

• Friday November 4^th at Ottawa Gee-Gees - 8PM
• Saturday November 5^th at Carleton Ravens - 8PM
• Friday November 11^th vs York Lions - 8PM
• Sunday November 13^th vs Queen's Gaels - 3PM
• Friday November 18^th vs TMU Bold - 8PM
• Saturday November 19^th vs Brock Badgers - 8PM
• Friday November 25^th at Lakehead Thunderwolves - 8PM
• Saturday November 26^th at Lakehead Thunderwolves - 8PM
• Wednesday November 30^th at Guelph Gryphons - 8PM
• Saturday December 3^rd at York Lions - 8PM
• Friday January 6^th vs Ontario Tech Ridgebacks - 8PM
• Friday January 13^th vs Laurentian Voyageurs - 8PM
• Saturday January 14th vs Nipissing Lakers - 8PM
• Wednesday January 18^th at Brock Badgers - 8PM
• Saturday January 21^st vs Algoma Thunderbirds - 8PM
• Friday January 27^th vs Laurier Golden Hawks - 8PM
• Wednesday February 1^st at Western Mustangs - 8PM
• Saturday February 4^th at Windsor Lancers - 4PM
• Friday February 10^th at Toronto Varsity Blues - 8PM
• Saturday February 11^th at TMU Bold - 8PM
• Friday February 17^th vs Waterloo Warriors - 8PM
• Saturday February 18^th vs Toronto Varsity Blues - 8PM

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For the latest news and updates on the McMaster Marauders, follow @mcmastersports on social media or visit www.marauders.ca.