The Ontario Colleges Athletics Association (OCAA) Round of 16 matches have been set for men's basketball, with eight sudden death matches taking place this weekend.
The OCAA basketball playoffs will take on a different format than years past. Eight teams in each division advance to the post-season, competing in an inter-divisional crossover round based on seeding. Winners advance to the quarter-finals next weekend. All matches in the opening two rounds will be hosted by the higher seeded team.
The four remaining teams will advance to the OCAA championship, hosted by the top remaining seed. The OCAA Men's Basketball Championship will take place Mar. 1-3.
St. Lawrence (6-12, 7th East) vs. Humber (13-5, 2nd West)
Saturday, Feb. 17 - 2 p.m.
The Humber Hawks bring the West Division's longest win streak into the playoffs, winners of five straight. Their opponents, the St. Lawrence Surge, enter the post-season on a five game losing skid.
Humber fourth-year point guard Jalen Menzies (Malton) led all OCAA student-athletes with 63 steals during the regular season. Second-year player Brian Johnson-Lennord (Brampton) is the offensive leader on the Surge averaging 14.5 points in 13 games.
Lambton (9-9, 7th West) vs. George Brown (14-4, 2nd East)
Saturday, Feb. 17 - 3 p.m.
Two teams that reached the OCAA's final four last year will collide in an opening round match-up. The reigning silver medalist George Brown Huskies are led by fourth-year forward Christian Tabiri (Toronto) with a team-high 15.8 points per game average.
Third-year guard JK Thomas (Marion, Ind.) of the Lambton Lions was the only player to surpass 400 points in the regular season with 469, averaging an OCAA-high 26.1 points per game.
Seneca (11-7, 5th East) vs. Niagara (11-7, 4th West)
Saturday, Feb. 17 - 3 p.m.
The Niagara Knights have dropped two straight to end the regular season. Playing all 18 regular season games, fourth-year small forward Raheem Dennis (Mississauga) is averaging 13.7 points for the Knights.
The Seneca Sting, winners of three straight, are currently fuelled by third-year player Tafari Black (Scarborough) who has been averaging 20.5 points per game since the beginning of January.
Sheridan (10-8, 6th West) vs. Georgian (13-5, 3rd East)
Saturday, Feb. 17 - 3 p.m.
The Battle of the Bears sees the Sheridan Bruins tangle with the Georgian Grizzlies. Both teams are entering the post-season on a high with three- and five-game winning streaks, respectively.
Top offensive leaders in this match-up include Sheridan second-year point guard Travis Clouden (Brampton) averaging 13.5 points per game and Georgian third-year player Sean Marseille (Newmarket) averaging 13.3.
Loyalist (6-12, 6th East) vs. Mohawk (11-7, 3rd West)
Saturday, Feb. 17 - 3 p.m.
The Mohawk Mountaineers, the 2023 OCAA bronze medalists, are .500 in their last 10 games. Mohawk first-year point guard Iverson Chong (Oakville) is averaging 14.1 points in 17 games.
The Loyalist Lancers have lost two straight. Loyalist second-year point guard Jayden Jack (Toronto) is the East Division's scoring leader averaging 21.7 points per game.
Conestoga (4-14, 8th West) vs. Durham (17-1, 1st East)
Saturday, Feb. 17 - 4 p.m.
The Durham Lords have the OCAA's best record entering the 2024 playoffs, and the longest winning streak at 15 games. Durham fifth-year guard Oshane Taylor-Douglas (Scarborough) is averaging 15.4 points per game.
The Conestoga Condors have the OCAA's longest losing streak among post-season teams, losers of nine straight. But one bright spot has been the play of second-year forward Hadi El-Miari (Guelph) grabbing a league high 229 rebounds during the regular season.
La Cité (4-14, 8th East) vs. St. Clair (15-3, 1st West)
Saturday, Feb. 17 - 7:30 p.m.
The defending OCAA champion St. Clair Saints were the best in the west during the regular season, led by fifth-year forward Chad Vincent-Simon (Scarborough) contributing 18.5 points per game.
Les Coyotes de La Cité earn the distinction of the team traveling the most kilometres to their first-round destination, having to make the trek from Ottawa to Windsor. Second-year forward Nelson Cilien (Montréal-Nord) is averaging 18.1 points per game for the 'Yotes.
Fanshawe (11-7, 5th West) vs. Centennial (13-5, 4th East)
Saturday, Feb. 18 - 5 p.m.
The Fanshawe Falcons and Centennial Colts are both 7-3 in their last 10 games.
Top offensive leaders in this match-up include Fanshawe third-year forward Aidan Whalen (Cambridge) averaging 16.7 points per game and Centennial third-year forward Deandre Goulbourne (Toronto) averaging 18.6.
All games will be web streamed on OCAA LIVE.
- OCAA -
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