SHERIDAN 98, NIAGARA 88 (FINAL)

BRAMPTON, Ont. - After a poor shooting evening helped to sink their seven game win streak, the Sheridan Bruins men's basketball team (22-8, 10-4 OCAA) got back on track with a 98-88 win over Niagara.

"Khalid [Abdel-Gabar] obviously made some big plays, but Orlando Palmer's performance in the second half was one of the keys to the victory," head coach Jim Flack said.

The double-blue started out on fire from beyond the three-point line, connecting on six triples in the opening frame to lead 29-18.

The rest of the half was about Sheridan pulling away -- turning a five-point edge into 13 -- and Niagara clawing back -- making it a six-point game, 47-41 Sheridan ahead, at halftime.

In the third quarter, the Bruins pushed their advantage as high as 19 and built enough of a cushion to weather a late run from Niagara.

Khalid Abdel-Gabar scored a game-high 30 -- which included seven from three-point range -- while Denmark McDonald (25), Orlando Palmer (16) and Anthony Burnett (10) were all in double figures.

After converting just 32.9 per cent of their field goal attempts, 15 per cent of their three-pointers and 58.5 per cent of their free throws against Humber 72 hours prior, Sheridan increased those numbers to 52.3, 46.2 and 78.3 respectively.

The game was part of two annual Sheridan staples -- the Sheridan Cup high school basketball tournament and Think Pink, the college's yearly breast cancer fund raiser.

"It was a great weekend," Flack said. "I'm very proud of the way our team ran the event and we raised some fund for the Think Pink campaign."

The club now has six days off before closing out their 2011-12 home schedule by hosting Algoma (February 11, 8pm) and Sault (February 12, 4pm).

Blue notes: Abdel-Gabar continues his ascent up the Sheridan record books, moving into a tie for fifth place (881 points) with Harry Vlachos while surpassing Maurice Smith (135) for the career lead in three-pointers made (136).

Source: Sheridan I.T.