The essence of family was on full display during Seniors Night at Bob Davis Gymnasium on Jan. 29.

The Brock men's basketball team celebrated their senior players on Bell Let's Talk Day by defeating the visiting York Lions 94-81 in front of a sold-out crowd.

The Badgers honoured senior players Tyler Brown and Mitch Saunders, including Operations Coordinator William Gatchalian, during a pre-game ceremony prior to tip off.

"Brock Basketball has meant everything to me. It's been my life for the last five years, so it's had a big impact on me," said Brown, who is currently third in the OUA with 5.8 assists per game. "It's been a great experience and has taught a lot moving forward. I've had the best five years of my life through Brock Basketball. My time here has been nothing less than amazing."

The Badgers and Lions opened the game by paying tribute to NBA legend Kobe Bryant, who tragically passed away on Jan. 26, by each sacrificing a possession to start the match.

Brock would lead by as many as 22 points, including a 49-32 lead at halftime.

York narrowly outscored Brock in the third and fourth quarters, but it wouldn't be enough as the Badgers outrebounded the Lions 44-28.

After scoring only four points in the first half, Brown dominated the second half and finished with a game-high 26 points, including six assists, four rebounds and three steals. 

Saunders contributed five points and seven rebounds.

Godsman Kwakwah posted a double-double with 25 points and 11 boards.

Noah Lapierre chipped in 11 points, three assists and three steals, including four rebounds, and Daniel Cayer poured in 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Daniel Caldwell recorded 11 points and seven rebounds.

Head coach Willy Manigat said his team is beginning to trust one another, and it's paying divdends on the court.

"When there's trust that's when a team becomes a family," said Manigat. "To a winning basketball team, family is everything. In all of the teams I've been a part of that have had success there was an unbelievable amount of trust and that's what we're developing as a program here. We're looking to build on that for years to come, because we're just in the infancy steps of it."

The Badgers have posted a record of 5-2 during the second half of season and now embark on a five-game road trip to close out the regular season.

"We're heading in a better direction. The guys are just understanding what we're trying to accomplish as a team," said Manigat, who has had to draw up less, but rather talk about what key changes they need to make on the court. "In our circle, in our family, in that locker room we know what the expectations are."

Up next, the Badgers (10-7) look to catch the Ryerson Rams (11-6), who are only two points ahead of them in the OUA Central, when they play them in Toronto on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 8 p.m.