The Cinderella storybook run continues for the Brock Badgers men's basketball team.
Seeded No. 10 in Ontario based on their regular season record (11-11), the Badgers have won three consecutive road playoff games to get to the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) final.
The Wilson Cup takes place on Saturday, March 2 as the Badgers travel to Kingston to take on the No. 1 Queen's Gaels at 3 p.m.
To get the playoffs started, the Badgers bested the defending national champion Carleton Ravens 70-69 in a thrilling Round 1 matchup on Feb. 21. They then stayed in the capital city and took down the No. 2 seeded Ottawa Gee-Gees 81-58 on Feb. 24.
Most recently, the Badgers booked their ticket to the U SPORTS Final 8 taking from Friday, March 8 to Sunday, March 10 in Quebec City by defeating the No. 3 seed Western Mustangs 75-72 on Feb. 28.
Leading the way for the Badgers in scoring is guard Jevon Brown and forward Jordan Tchuente. Brown averaged 14 points per game (PPG) during the regular season and has brought a different level in the postseason with 18.3. Tchuente had a sensational semifinal game against the Western Mustangs, putting up game highs in points with 26 and rebounds with 13. The OUA Second Team All-Star is averaging 19.3 PPG in the postseason and a provincial-high nine rebounds per game (REB). He also led the OUA in REB with 9.1 during the regular season.
Facilitating the offence for the Badgers will be senior guard Isaiah Bujdoso. The lefty floor general has stepped up in the playoffs, distributing 4.3 assists per game. Against Western, he delivered six assists and added 10 points and three steals.
The key to the Badgers success in their postseason run has been their defence. Holding opponents to 66.3 PPG, Brock has been suffocating on that end of the floor, which was highlighted by their win over Ottawa where they gave up only 13 second-half points.
On the other side sits the Queen's Gaels. The Gaels finished first in the conference, earning an OUA-best 19 victories and homecourt advantage for the entire postseason. For their success, head coach Stephan Barrie was named Coach of the Year for the second year in a row.
To start their postseason, the Gaels defeated the McMaster Marauders 85-79 in the quarter-final round before winning a double-overtime classic over the Toronto Varsity Blues 95-90. Luka Syllas poured in a game-high 39 points in the win over the Blues to help punch their ticket to the Wilson Cup.
Syllas was named OUA's Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-Star after helping the Gaels hold opponents to the province and country's second stingiest mark of 71.4 PPG. In the playoffs, he is averaging 35 PPG after finishing 10th in the province with 17.1 during the regular season.
Finishing second on the team in scoring is Luka's brother, Cole. The fifth-year guard notched 14.6 PPG during the year. He also led the team in rebounding, placing sixth in the conference with 7.6 REB.
It will be a battle of offensive and defensive juggernauts in the Wilson Cup, as the Gaels average an OUA-best 90 PPG during the postseason.
There will be a fan bus that will be travelling to Kingston and back to St. Catharines on Saturday, Marrch 2. Tickets are available at https://brocku.universitytickets.com. You can also catch the game on OUA.tv.
