The Warriors picked up a massive two points on Friday night in a 87-76 win over Guelph, in what was their final regular season home game of 2018.
The win moved Waterloo's record to 8-14, good for fifth overall in the OUA west with 16 points, putting them that much closer to a post-season berth.
McMaster is is two back for the sixth and final playoff spot while Guelph sits outside the playoff picture with their 5-16 record.
Nedim Hodzic (Waterloo/Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary) did
Nedim Hodzic (Waterloo/Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary) things on Friday night surpassing the 30 point total for the seventh time this season.
Hodzic put up 31 points to lead all scorers going 15-for-26 including two emphatic dunks down the stretch.
Hodzic also added to his U SPORTS leading total on the boards with 16 more. Hodzic continues to lead the country in reboudns per game with 11.6 and is second in OUA in points per game at 23.5.
Simon Petrov (Waterloo/Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary) put up a nice point total with 20 points in the game while
Justin Malnerich (Cambridge/St. Benedict's Catholic Secondary School) hit four from beyond the arc, giving him 12 points off the bench. Rounding out Waterloo's offence was
Evan Rodenburg (Cambridge/St. Benedict's Catholic Secondary School) who had nine while
Justin Hardy (Waterloo/Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary) had eight.
Waterloo and Guelph shot relatively the same percentage from the field with the Warriors firing at 45.3% while the visitors operated at 41.3%, but the difference for the home side came on the glass as Waterloo out rebounded the Gryphons 46-33.
The Warriors will prepare for the Gryphons once again when the two meet this coming Wednesday in Guelph.
Guelph faces Laurier this Sunday and if the Hawks come away with the win, Waterloo clinches a playoff spot. If Guelph picks up the win, Waterloo will have to beat the Gryphons on Wednesday to secure their spot.
