HAMILTON, Ont. – The Guelph Gryphons men's basketball team is now one win away from clinching home court advantage in the 1st round of playoffs for the first time in 10 years.
 
Wednesday night in Hamilton, the Gryphons (11-12) escaped McMaster's Burridge Gymnasium with a 77-75 victory over the Marauders (10-13). Trailing by four points with 1:40 remaining in the final quarter, Gryphons fourth-year guard Tommy Yanchus knocked down a clutch three-pointer to trim the deficit to 75-74. After the Gryphon defence forced a turnover on the ensuing possession, Yanchus would drive to his left and go glass for two of his game-high 23 points to put the Gryphons up 76-75.
 
It would stay that way until the final seconds. With under :10 seconds remaining, McMaster would get an open look at a go-ahead three pointer, but Josh Nardini's corner three was off the mark and rebounded by Gryphon forward Banky Alade, who finished the night with 19 points and 11 rebounds. After Alade knocked down one of two at the free throw line to push Guelph's lead to 77-75, the Marauders would have one last chance, with Nardini's potential game-winning three at the buzzer rattling in and out, sealing a huge, 77-75 road win for the Gryphons.
 
The Gryphons were an impressive 42% from beyond the arc (8-19), with Yanchus accounting for five of his team's eight three pointers. Guelph got off to a fast start, jumping out to an eight-point lead after the opening quarter, only to see McMaster battle back to make it a one-point game after three quarters, setting up the dramatic finish in the fourth.
 
The Gryphons will close out their regular season schedule Saturday afternoon at home versus the OUA West-leading Laurier Golden Hawks (16-6). A win on Saturday over the No. 9-nationally ranked Golden Hawks would guarantee the Gryphons the No. 4-seed in the OUA West and a home playoff game on February 20. However, a Gryphon loss, coupled with a McMaster win over Western in their regular season finale, would see the Marauders secure the No. 4-seed as McMaster holds the tiebreaker over Guelph (point difference in head-to-head competition – with McMaster sitting at plus 15 despite splitting the two teams splitting their two regular season meetings).
 
Gryphon Take
"We feel like we've been getting more resilient as the year has gone on, and tonight was another example of that. Down the stretch, Tommy was huge, making some big shots and taking a big charge. He's our senior leader and we count on him to do that kind of stuff.
 
Like we have all year, our guys just kept on fighting. For a young team, there is some great character in the locker room and during the second half of this season we've been finding some different ways to win. We're starting to see some glimpses of just how good we can be."  – Gryphon head coach Chris O'Rourke

The Record
Guelph is 11-12
 
Next up
vs Laurier Golden Hawks - Saturday, Feb 16, 3 pm