HAMILTON, Ont. — The McMaster Marauders (0-4-0) visited Thunder Bay to participate in a weekend series against the Lakehead Thunderwolves (4-0-0). Despite playing in two hard fought games, the Marauders did not come away with a win over the weekend.

Game one vs Lakehead

On day one of the weekend, the Marauders and Thunderwolves traded early buckets. The Marauders took a 12-10 lead off a Mike Demagus' (Scarborough, Ont.) three-pointer. Lakehead responded right back with a 9-0 run. Ay Osunde (Scarborough, Ont.) nailed a three off a nice pass from Cashius McNeilly (Scarborough, Ont.). Tyler Garcia (Mississauga, Ont.) cashed in on a three which brought the Marauders within four. Lakehead would extend their lead back to seven, but McNeilly kept the game close with a three-pointer late in the quarter. The Marauders trailed by four heading into the second quarter.

Osunde dropped in the layup for the first points of the second quarter. Tre Edwards (Hamilton, Ont.) scored on another triple. The Marauders and Thunderwolves once again traded blows in the second quarter with Lakehead on top by seven with just over a minute left. Osunde added five points which kept McMaster within reach. McMaster was down by four at half-time.

Demagus opened the Marauders scoring in the third quarter with a layup finish. Elijah Bethune (Toronto, Ont.) ended a 17-2 run for the Thunderwolves. Moody Qasim (Mississauga, Ont.), Edwards and Demangus added baskets which brought the game to a 71-57 score at the end of the third quarter.

Garcia connected on a three, which busted Lakehead's 8-2 run. Demagus added another layup, which brought him to 11 points in the game. Osunde scored two of his team-high 14 points on a layup. The Marauders were unable to come back as they fell 91-74.

Game two vs Lakehead

On Saturday, the Marauders were looking for revenge. Mike Demagus (Scarborough, Ont.) and Elijah Bethune (Toronto, Ont.) combined to score the first nine Marauders points as they took an early 9-2 lead. Forward, Brendan Amoyaw (Winnipeg, Man.), scored his first points off a nice layup score. Anthony Wrzeszcz (Mississauga, Ont.) nailed a three which earned McMaster an 18-15 lead. Moody Qasim (Mississauga, Ont.) connected a late three pointer. McMaster led by five at the end of the first quarter.

Qasim drilled another three in their first possession of the quarter and then dropped in a layup in the next Marauders possession. Tyler Garcia (Mississauga, Ont.) and Wrzeszcz connected on back-to-back triples which earned the Marauders an 11-point lead. Amoyaw exploded to the rim for a dunk. McMaster was in total control of the game up by 17. Qasim hit a late three and the Marauders finished the half with a 15-point lead.

Bethune started the third quarter with a huge block. Demagus drove hard to the basket and finished the layup off. Osunde scored on a layup and Garcia added another triple which brought McMaster to an 18-point lead. Qasim recorded his third triple of the game. Lakehead went on a 9-0 run to end the quarter. Marauders were up by six heading into the final quarter.

Bethune recorded the first points of the half for the Marauders. Demagus' layup, off a great pass from Garcia, ended a 10-0 Lakehead run. Marauders were up by three with two minutes to play. Lakehead would hit two three-pointers, including the game winner. The Marauders would fall just short in a 76-73 loss.

Next up, the Marauders take on the Western Mustangs (1-3-0) in London at 8pm on Friday.