WEEKEND RECAP: #4 Ottawa downs Algoma, earns key win over #5 Brock

The Gee-Gees men's basketball team closed the fall semester with four consecutive wins en route to an 8-1 overall record at the exam and holiday break. 

On Friday night at Montpetit Hall, Ottawa powered to a 103-59 win over Algoma, before earning a statement 82-70 win over #5 Brock in St. Catharines on Sunday.

Against Algoma, the Gee-Gees were completely dominant, jumping out to a 22-point lead in the first quarter and never looking back in the 44-point win.

Ottawa had an outstanding night shooting the ball, shooting 50.7 per cent from the field and 40.5 per cent from three with 17 three-pointers. The Gee-Gees outrebounded Algoma 45-31, as well as scored 30 points off of 25 turnovers. 

The story of the game was the performance of Jacques-Mélaine Guemeta, who finished with 26 points, six rebounds, and two assists in a career-high performance in his first season in garnet and grey.

Point guard Kevin Otoo also set a new Gee-Gees career-high in the win with 20 points, to go along with five rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Budding freshman star Liban Abdalla added 14 points, hitting four three-pointers in the win. 

On Sunday, Ottawa faced a Brock team that had just defeated the top-ranked Carleton Ravens. With a chance to establish themselves in the conversation for the top-team in the nation, Ottawa delivered a decisive knockout blow in a heavyweight matchup, earning a 82-70 road victory.

With leading scorer Quincy Louis-Jeune out of the lineup injured, and second leading scorer Cole Newton exiting the game two minutes in after rolling his ankle, the offensive attack had to fall on someone else's shoulders. Fourth-year guard Dragan Stajic stepped up in all phases of the game to log the most well-rounded performance of his career. 

The two teams fought tooth-and-nail through the entire first half of action, with only a single point separating them at halftime. The Gee-Gees came out of the locker room firing in the third quarter, outscoring Brock 27-14 to take control of the game.

Led by the outside shooting of Stajic, alongside Pépin and Abdalla, the Gee-Gees built their lead as high as 18 points early in the fourth quarter.

After the Ottawa lead grew to its biggest of the game, Brock wasted no time responding, cutting into the lead through the middle of the final frame. Recovering from a three-point barrage from the Badgers, Ottawa's offensive rhythm picked up again to close off the 12-point win.

Stajic was just shy of a triple-double, finishing with 20 points, and nine rebounds and assists. Pépin had 15 points to go along with six rebounds and two assists, while Brock Newton had 12 points and three rebounds.

Against one of the best rebounding teams in the nation, the Gee-Gees outrebounded Brock 35-25. Continuing their hot shooting, Ottawa shot 49.2 per cent from the field and 36.7 per cent from three in the win.

With the win, the Gee-Gees are tied with Queen's for the best record in the OUA at 8-1. With Queen's loss to TMU, and Carleton's loss to Brock this weekend, there is a possibility Ottawa climbs towards the top rank in the nation.

In the New Year, the Gee-Gees return with a road trip to Waterloo for matchups with Laurier and Waterloo. Ottawa will be back at Montpetit Hall on Jan. 14 to take on Ontario Tech.