David Kent, Griffins Athletics
Edmonton, AB….. The MacEwan University Griffins men's basketball team defeated the UFV Cascades, 74-54, tonight at the City Centre Campus gymnasium. The Griffins record improves to 6-8 and UFV falls to 9-5.
The Griffins came out running tonight and quickly established an early lead which they maintained throughout the first half. In the first quarter, MacEwan University shot only 26 percent but were able to grab a three point lead after the quarter ended. The Griffins played tremendous defense in the quarter, while UFV shot 46 percent, the Griffins held the Cascades to very few quality shots.
In the second quarter, MacEwan University continued to pressure the Cascades and held them to 13 points, while scoring 23 points to open up a 13 point lead at halftime.
The Griffins shot 50 percent in the quarter, led by Keith Gerdes, a fourth year Commerce major, from Edmonton, AB with a team high 12 points. Seven different Griffins scored at least two points for head coach Eric Magdanz in the half. Chris Mooney, a fourth year General Studies major, from Ottawa, ON leads the Griffins with seven rebounds as MacEwan University has out rebounded UFV 26 to 19 at the break.
The Cascades top scorer, at the break, is Kevon Parchment, Toronto, Ontario with eight points and seven total rebounds.
The Griffins defense controlled the second half holding the high powered UFV Cascade offense to 18 points as they outscored UFV by seven points to earn their sixth Explorer Division win of the 2015-16 campaign.
MacEwan University shot 44 percent in the half as Gerdes led the Griffins with 22 point performance. The veteran forward was named the Griffins "Player of the Game" pulling down two boards, and recording two assists in addition to his 22 points. Four different Griffins were in double figures as eight different Griffins scored in the victory. Mooney's nine rebounds led MacEwan University as they out rebounded UFV 51 to 34.
Parchment led all UFV scorers with a team high 15 points and 12 rebounds.
"I am very happy with our team's defensive effort tonight, it was the most complete game from start to finish for us all season. The result tonight puts us in a great position to build for the run down the stretch to earn a post season berth," commented Magdanz.
UFV 13 13 16 12 = 54 (9-5)
GMU 16 23 19 16 = 74 (6-8)
Photo Credit: Len Joudrey, Griffins Athletics
The MacEwan University Griffins are the 14 athletic teams that represent MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta, in seven sports. The university's teams are members of Canadian Interuniversity Sport and Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association, and compete in the Canada West Universities Athletics Association and Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference.
Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada. Fifty-four members, 10,000 student-athletes and 550 coaches vie for 19 national championships in 11 different sports. The CIS also provides high performance international opportunities for Canadian student-athletes at Winter and Summer Universiades, and 27 World University Championships.
For further information on the MacEwan University Griffins please contact David Kent, at 780-497-5324 or by email at kentd22@macewan.ca and Junelle Mah, at 780-289-3037 or by email at mahj67@macewan.ca.