SHERIDAN 71, HUMBER 68 (OT)

BRAMPTON, Ont. - When you play in one of the most storied rivalries in Canadian college athletics, it can be hard for the actual game to live up to the hype. That was not the case for the Sheridan Bruins men's basketball team (24-10, 14-2 OCAA) and their rivals from Humber, as their 107th OCAA meeting had just about everything: lead changes, a high energy crowd and overtime.

Ultimately, the Bruins were able to make more shots late in the game to pick up a 71-68 win and fend off a Humber squad that had more effort when possession of the ball was in dispute.

"I didn't think it was a particularly well played game for either team," head coach Jim Flack said, "but I think Humber clearly demonstrated that they wanted it more than us in so many different ways. Clearly, on the glass it was obvious that they battled us and we didn't put up much of a fight at times. But we made shots when we needed to to extend the game and then in the end we made one more shot than they did. Really at this point, while we may be higher in the standings than they are, I don't think there's much to choose from between the two teams."

After Sheridan got on the board early with a trip to the free throw line - where they made one of two - Humber responded with a 10-0 run to take the early advantage.

The Double-Blue replied with a 7-0 run of their own to cut the lead to two, but found themselves in a 17-9 hole at the end of the frame.

In the second quarter, the visitors pushed the margin as high as 11, but a 6-0 Sheridan run to close the half gave Humber a 30-25 halftime edge.

By the end of the third quarter, the bruins had gotten to within one - down 43-42 - and with an early fourth quarter basket, took their first lead since 1-0.

After that, the final 10 minutes were played close the whole way, as there were five lead changes and four ties with the largest lead being Humber by four.

Down 53-51 with 13.5 seconds remaining, Trevor Williams drove down the middle of the lane and the ball was deflected to Roshean Keen who banked it in for tying bucket.

Humber had possession with 5.2 seconds remaining, but a travelling violation gave Sheridan the opportunity to close the game out in regulation, but their attempt was off the mark.

As poor as both sides had shot the ball in regulation, the overtime seemed to breathe new offensive life into them.

Humber opened by draining a three-pointer, but the Double-Blue responded with seven unanswered points and they would never relinquish that lead.

With 39.6 seconds remaining the Bruins maintained their four-point cushion, with Tyrone Dickson of Humber set to shoot a pair of free throws.

While both attempts were missed, Humber was able to get an offensive rebound - a major theme throughout the night - and the put-back made it a 70-68 Sheridan lead with less than 30 seconds to play.

However on the ensuing Sheridan possession, Keen was sent to the line, making one of the two foul shots, to make it 71-68.

With the clock ticking down, Humber tried to hoist up a game-tying three but Keen was there to swat it away and seal the win.

He scored 15 points while hauling down 14 rebounds, blocking four shots and recording four steals.

Jahmal McQueen scored a team-high 17, while Trevor Williams (16) and Michael Selkridge (10) also hit double figures.

Humber was relentless on the glass all night, holding a 67-53 rebounding advantage and picking up 23 second chance points. At one point in the second half, they were able to score points after corralling three different offensive rebounds.

The Bruins move on to yet another tough game, with a trip to Niagara on February 9.

Flack says they'll approach the game the way they would any other game on the conference slate.

"You just keep doing what you're doing," he said. "We'll try to clean up some areas where we made mental mistakes during the game and you just hope to improve week-to-week and see what you can do in March."

Blue notes: It was the first time the Double-Blue swept the conference season series with their rivals since they won three straight during the 2001-02 season. They don't have an unblemished record against them in 2012-13 however, as they dropped a 64-55 decision during the Dawson tournament in October. Humber had swept the season series most recently in 2010-11, capping a three-year run. In three overtime games this season - two wins, one loss - the total point spread for the Bruins is now plus-one.

Source: Sheridan I.T.