Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Friday, Nov. 11 @ Toronto
Toronto 98, Waterloo 78

The Waterloo Warriors dropped their opening game of the 2011-12 season 98-78 on Friday night at the Athletic Centre Sports Gym in Toronto.

With Toronto leading by seven at halftime (47-40), Alex Hill exploded for 15 points in the first 6:29 of the third quarter to build a comfortable lead for the Blues that would not diminish.  The third-year forward and Toronto native was 7-of-11 from the floor, including four three-pointers and was name the Varsity Blues player of the game.

Burnaby, B.C., native Andrew Wasik had 17 points, while fellow forwards Sean Nickel and Drazen Glisic added 12 points on the night.  Glisic also had a game-high eight boards in the win.

Fifth-year guard Justin Holmes tallied 11 points and Arun Kumar had 10 in the win.

The play went back-and-forth throughout to start the game with rookie guard Cam McIntyre (Kitchener/Kitchener C.I.) leading the charge for Waterloo with 12 points and Wasik tallying eight for Toronto.  The Warriors held a slight 23-22 advantage after the first frame.

The Blues surged ahead early in the second quarter thanks to a combined 12 points from Glisic and Nickel in the first three minutes of the quarter. An Andrew Melbourne (Scarborough/Mother Teresa) three-pointer would bring the Warriors within one (34-33) midway through the frame, but a pair of late three-pointers from Hill gave the Blues a 47-40 lead at halftime.

Wasik opened the second half with two jumpers and Hill took over from there, scoring 15 of Toronto's next 18 points to give the Blues a 21-point lead in the first 6:29 of the third frame.  Toronto was up 79-56 heading into the fourth.

MacIntyre ended the night with a game-high 25 points and was named Waterloo's player of the game.  He went 9-for-18 from the field and was successful on three of five three point attempts.  Rounding out the Warrior attack was Srdjan Pejicic (Waterloo/Bluevale ) and Mike Wright (Burlington/Assumption) with nine points each while Brendan Smith (Kamloops/Sa-Hali S.S.) added eight.

The Warriors will look to rebound tomorrow evening in search of their first win against the Ryerson Rams on the road.  Tip-off is set for 8pm.

Saturday, Nov. 12 @ Ryerson
Waterloo 96, Ryerson 91

Cam McIntyre (Kitchener/Kitchener C.I.) recorded a game-high 31 points while going 5-of-11 from beyond the arc, and the Waterloo Warriors handed the Rams men's basketball team their second straight loss to open the regular season with an incredible shooting performance, defeating Ryerson 96-91 on Saturday night at Kerr Hall Gym.

After seeing a comfortable 22-point advantage get cut to just three in the final minute of regulation, the Warriors managed to survive an attempted Rams' comeback in the fourth quarter by draining 16 three-pointers in the match.

The Rams, who have seen their roster get shortened once again with the loss of Aaron Best until January after suffering an injury in their home opener, persevered against a hot-shooting Warriors team but in the end came up just short of an improbable comeback.

Rams point guard Jahmal Jones (Mississauga, Ont.) scored the team's first five points in the game, and Nem Stankovic (Toronto) grabbed his own rebound twice to sink a jumper, giving the Rams an early 7-2 lead. After Waterloo streaked to take a one-point lead, Jones notched a three-pointer in response.

But Waterloo went on an 8-0 run off two three's by Cam McIntyre (Kitchener/Kitchener C.I.). Jones would tally 10 points in the quarter, but the Rams would find themselves down 21-18 at the end of the first.

The teams trading buckets to start the second, and McIntyre began heating up, nailing a shot from beyond the arc. His teammates Wayne Bridge (North York/Eastern Commerce) and Zach Angelini (Hamilton/St. Thomas More) followed suit, nailing three's as well to push Waterloo's lead to 15 midway through the period.

The Warriors were in the penalty, allowing Ryerson an opportunity to get back in the contest from the line, and Jordon Gauthier converted a midcourt foul into two points to cut the lead to 11, only to have a long three by Mike Wright (Burlington/Assumption) re-pad the advantage.

Waterloo would go on to drain 11 shots from beyond the arc in the half with a 65% three-point field-goal percentage and take a 51-38 lead into the locker rooms. McIntyre led all players with 20 points in the half, with Jones topping Ryerson at 15.

The Warriors exploded out of the gate in the second, dropping nine in under two and a half minutes and continuing their dominance on the perimeter. They quickly built a 22 point lead midway through the period.

The Rams fought back and managed to climb back to within 15 by the end of the quarter, down 75-60 heading into the fourth.

Jelane Pryce (Innisfil, Ont.) dropped six points early in the fourth to help the Rams surge, but another Angelini three brought the momentum to a halt. However, Pryce was on a mission, and the sophomore went hard to the hoop and picked up a bucket while being fouled. He nailed his free throw, cutting the lead to ten with over six minutes left in regulation.

Jones (Mississauga) then forced a turnover and took the ball end-to-end for an easy layup, bringing the contest back into single digits. The momentum continued to swing for the Rams, with Afeworki Gebrekerestos (Ottawa) sinking a three and forcing a travel on defense moments later, leading to a Luke Staniscia (Pefferlaw, Ont.) lay-in.

The Warriors continued hitting clutch shots, as Angelini dropped another long-ranger to spread the lead back to 10. Jones did his best to keep the Rams close, recording the team's next five points. After a late turnover, Pryce brought the Rams within six with 33 seconds to go.

The Rams had an opportunity as the Warriors missed five of six free throws, and Jones cut the lead to three with 13 seconds left. However, on the next possession McIntyre was sent to the line and he smoothly sunk both of his shots, sealing the Waterloo victory.

Waterloo returns home next weekend as part of Waterloo's fourth annual Think Pink weekend to face the RMC Paladins and Queen's Gaels.  Both games can be seen live on the Streaming Sports Network (SSN Canada).