OSHAWA, Ont. – The host Durham Lords finished the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association Men’s Basketball National Championship winless at 0-3 after a 105-79 setback to the Humber Hawks (1-2) in an all-Ontario seventh-place showdown on Saturday.

A huge Humber second quarter (34-13) outburst gave the Hawks a big 65-40 lead at halftime, and left the home team with just too great a margin to erase. Durham was unable to chip away at the lead during the third and trailed 82-54 heading into the final stanza.

“We ran better in the second quarter and we put the ball up. When you get into a rhythm like that the ball seems to go in a little easier,” said Humber coach Shawn Collins.

“This wasn’t the game we were hoping for at the beginning of the tournament, but I thought we competed and played hard.”

Kern Lewis and Akeem Sween scored 22 and 19 respectively to lead the Hawks to victory. Mike Dvorak added 16, and was his team’s player of the game.

“Mike Dvorak was tremendous hitting the three, as was Akeem Sween hitting the mid-range,” said their coach, who praised Lewis’ veteran leadership in his final Humber game.

Durham’s smooth shooting guard Courtney Small stayed out of the foul trouble that plagued him in the previous game against Northern B.C. when he fouled out, and scored 23 Saturday in his final game as a Lord, earning his team’s player-of-the-game honours.

Humber led 31-27 after one quarter.

By midway through the fourth, Durham had opened up the gates to let their reserves see floor time. Backup centre Byron Wabano (14 points) used the chance to bank in a couple of jumpers from the top of the key, while Humber kept raining threes at the other end.

Lords’ Tyler McGarrity netted 18 points, all in the first half. Eric Smith added 13 for Durham.

Michael Acheampong pulled down nine rebounds for the winners, while Small led Durham with eight boards. After going 10-for-22 from the line Friday, the Lords again struggled with free throws, hitting just 9 of 21.

Tonight’s gold medal match pits two Cinderellas – the Lethbridge Kodiaks against the Vanier Cheetahs -- the fifth and seventh-seeded teams respectively in the tournament. The Toronto Raptors Dance Pak will perform at halftime.

CCAA CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Game One: Vanier (7) defeated NAIT (2) 75-73
Game Two: MSVU (6) defeated Humber (3) 65-56
Game Three: Lethbridge (5) defeated UNBC (4) 81-66
Game Four: VIU (1) defeated Durham (8) 70-61

Friday, March 18, 2011
Bronze Medal Quarterfinal NAIT defeated Humber 83-76
Bronze Medal Quarterfinal – UNBC vs. Durham 72-67
Semi-Final #1 – Vanier defeated MSVU 70-65
Semi-Final #2 – Lethbridge defeated VIU 82-73

Saturday, March 19, 2011
Bronze Medal Semi-Final #1 – MSVU defeated MSVU 84-49
Bronze Medal Semi-Final #2 – VIU defeated NAIT 87-80
7th Place Game – Humber defeated Durham 105-79
Bronze Medal Game – MSVU vs. VIU - 6 p.m.
Gold Medal Game – Vanier vs. Lethbridge - 8 p.m.

Official tournament website, and watch games live at: www.ccaamensbasketball2011.ca

Source: Durham College