No. 8 Men's Basketball holds on to beat No. 1 Durham to earn spot in OCAA final

By: William Shoukri
Humber Athletics Communications

OSHAWA - No. 8 Humber men's basketball (16-5) unseated the top-ranked Durham Lords (19-2) 66-64 on Saturday, securing its spot in the OCAA gold medal final. It was a dramatic game from start to finish, with Humber trailing by as much as 11 during the first half before coming from behind to take the victory. Jalen Menzies led the way for the Hawks with 24 points, while Kwabena Antwi was noticeable defensively all night, finishing with a team-high ten rebounds.  

Game Recap 

Facing the top-ranked team in the nation in their gym, the Hawks had a mountain to climb to keep their season alive. The Hawks were stifled offensively for the first five minutes of the game, with Durham jumping out to a 7-0 lead. Humber would struggle to hit shots all quarter long, while Durham dominated the transitional game. The Hawks trailed 19-12 after the first quarter, with their season hanging on by a thread. 

Humber came out much more robust in the second quarter. Durham is the best defensive team in the OCAA, and the Hawks needed time to adjust their defensive positioning. Humber played steady basketball, passing well in the transition and getting important defensive stops. Thanks to critical buckets from Kameron David and Jalen Menzies, Humber slowly clawed back into the game. Malik Grant would tie the game for the Hawks, pulling up from midrange to tie the game at 29. The stalemate lasted until the final minute of play, and the score was 29-29 after two-quarters of the game. Menzies had ten at the half, with the supporting cast contributing equally in the comeback quarter. 

The second half started with Jamani Barrett giving Humber its first lead of the game. After trailing by as much as 11, the Hawks returned and turned the tide. With the momentum shifted, Humber took advantage of a floundering Durham. The Hawks started the quarter with an 8-1 run, shutting Durham down completely. Humber kept building, leading by as much as ten for some time. Durham starting hitting baskets, closing the gap but the Hawks kept the momentum. The teams traded baskets furiously, but Humber would hold onto its lead, leaving the quarter up 50-49. 

Both teams were buzzing for the fourth quarter with their seasons on the line. Durham tied the game early on, and both teams traded baskets evenly. The two teams would trade the lead, keeping the difference to just a possession. To the Lords' credit, their defenders got hands-on seemingly every ball the Hawks shot. Durham played physical defence, fouling Humber over and over again. The Hawks took advantage of the fouls, going 23/32 from the line in the game. The final possessions of the game were pure drama. Humber held a two-point lead with less than a minute left and made three consecutive defensive stops to secure the win and their place in the OCAA finals with the 66-64 victory.

Jalen Menzies was undoubtedly the player of the game, scoring a game-high 24 points, including most of Humber's most important points. After the game, he told the broadcast, "We knew we had a dog fight ahead of us. They were the best in the country – we think we're the best in the country." 

Humber Highlights 

• Humber will compete in their seventh OCAA final since 2015.
• This is Humber's 29th trip to the OCAA finals
• The Hawks held Durham to its second-lowest scoring total this season.
• Humber improves to 4-2 all-time against Durham and 29-8 in the semifinal round. 
• Coach Miles improves to 8-1 in the OCAA postseason.
• The win secured Humber's spot at the 2024 CCAA National Championship in New Brunswick, March 13-16.

What's Next? 

No. 8 Humber will compete for its league-best 16th OCAA title on March 3 against No. 11 George Brown. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00 PM and will be streamed on OCAA Live.