Box Score The Varsity Blues men’s basketball team fell in dramatic fashion, 87-82, to the McMaster Marauders on Friday night (Nov. 30) at the Athletic Centre Sports Gym.
 
Toronto (2-5) took McMaster (2-4) to the wire in the intensely physical contest, unable to convert when down three in the final 12 seconds. The loss keeps the Blues in seventh place in the East and the win keeps McMaster (2-4) tied for third in the West.
 
Leading the way for the Blues offensively were Alex Hill (Toronto, Ont.) who posted a career-high 33 points and Arun Kumar (Hamilton, Ont.) netting 27 of his own.
 
McMaster fought off an early lead by the Blues to pull ahead with a 23-18 advantage after the first quarter. The Marauders shot 53% from the field, while Toronto was led by Hill’s 15 points.
 
Toronto was down by eight when fifth-year guard Kumar started and ended a Blues 12-2 swing with two four-point plays to even the score at 34-34. The Toronto would take a 45-43 lead into the half.
 
Both teams took it to each other defensively in the third quarter, grinding out possession after possession. McMaster would end on an 8-4 run, taking a 62-61 advantage over the Varsity Blues into the fourth quarter.
 
The physicality continued in the fourth, with both teams making full use of their bench due five players fouling out. The Marauders and Blues kept pace with each other, never seeing either team lead by more than five. McMaster pulled away for good in the last minute with a stop and hit six late free throws to pull out the close win.

Aaron Redpath (Ajax, Ont.) was the Marauders’ leading scorer, putting up 21 on the night.
 
The Varsity Blues return to the court tomorrow as they host the Brock Badgers (1-5). Game time is scheduled for 8 p.m.


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