Box Score The Brock Badgers men's basketball team has earned the right to play on Sunday at the USPORTS National Championships.
 
It's exactly what coach Charles Kissi had hoped his team would accomplish in its first appearance at the nationals in a decade. But with a decisive win over the University of New Brunswick in the consolation semifinal Saturday, the Badgers now want to leave Halifax with a win in the consolation final.
 
"You don't come this far to stop. You have to keep building. I'm proud of these guys. We bounced back," said Kissi.
 
After missing their first seven shots and falling behind 7-0 to start the game, the Badgers exploded with a 16-point run and led 17-9 after the first quarter. They opened that margin to 40-25 at the half and 58-41 after three on route to an 81-65 win.
 
Unlike Thursday's quarter-final loss to Calgary, when they turned the ball over 18 times which the Dinos used to score 22 points off of, the Badgers turned the ball over just nine times against the UNB Varsity Reds, leading to only a single point off turnovers.
 
"I thought we were much better today and that's the sign of great growth from a great team," said Kissi.
 
Brock also looked like they were more relaxed and having more fun than in their first game.
 
"That was something we overlooked in the first game. With the intensity and the pressure, I think it got to us and we forgot that it's basketball, so go out there and have fun," said graduating forward Dani Elgadi.
 
While Brock was led by Johneil Simpson with 29 points and 11 rebounds, Elgadi had arguably his best game of the post-season with 28 points and nine rebounds.
 
The performance lifted Elgadi to second overall in career scoring at Brock with 2,797 points, surpassing Brad Rootes, who was in the Scotiabank Centre to watch the game Saturday. Elgadi also surpassed Gord Wood for second overall in career rebounds with 1,517.
 
"It's humbling. I'm truly grateful just to be named among some of the greatest players to ever wear a Brock jersey," he said. "Before the game a lot of those (former players) came into the dressing room and talked to us and we really appreciated it."
 
Behind Simpson and Elgadi, Cassidy Ryan had seven points Saturday. Leading UNB with 16 points was Javon Masters, a former teammate of Elgadi's who has now played his final game for the Varsity Reds.
 
The Badgers now advance to the consolation final game at noon local time (11 a.m. EST) against the winner of Saturday night's late game between Acadia and Alberta. That final will be followed by the championship bronze medal game at 2 p.m. and the championship final at 6 p.m.
 
Already missing a pair of guards to injuries, Brock was without seven-foot-one forward Donald Mims who was out with a foot injury Saturday and then lost both starting guard Tyler Brown in the second quarter and Elgadi in the fourth.
 
But Kissi said there's no doubt in his mind that Elgadi will play in the consolation final.
 
"Dani's not going to end his career with an injury, so he'll figure it out. We're going to keep going and try to win tomorrow," he said.