Box Score After going undefeated through five preseason games, the Golden Hawks were unable to ride that momentum to a win in their first regular season contest. Buoyed by a loud and raucous home crowd, the Brock Badgers handed Laurier a 98-77 loss in the first leg of their home-and-home series.
The purple and gold moved the ball well throughout the game, leading to more than a few wide-open shots.
Fourth-year guard Romello Taylor (Driftwood, Ont.) had a game-leading thirteen points in the first half. He would finish with a career-high 19. Even still, the Golden Hawks struggled shooting the ball as a team, and finished the half 12-37 from the field. They trailed 46-29 going into halftime.
While their shooting improved in the second half, Brock’s stellar rebounding kept Laurier from being able to gain any momentum. The Badgers finished the game with 45 rebounds to Laurier’s 27.
“The mental toughness, relentlessness, I thought they were much better at that than we were,” said Head Coach Justin Serresse about his team’s struggles getting boards. “It’s something we took pride in during the pre-season … I know we’re capable of being much better than that.”
With the Golden Hawks unable to put together any significant runs, the Badgers widened their lead in the third quarter, with their largest lead of 31 points coming fifteen seconds into the fourth.
From there, the Golden Hawks were unable to climb back into the game, as Brock’s staunch defense held them at bay as it had through most of the game.
Top Performers
Laurier Golden Hawks
#6 - Ali Sow, G (Ottawa)
The veteran guard struggled in the first half but proved dependable as always in the second, dropping 26 points on 10-15 shooting, giving him his first 30-point game of the season.
Brock Badgers
#14 - Daniel Caldwell, G (Toronto)
It was a true team effort for the Badgers, with five players reaching double digits in points. Still, Caldwell stood out with 15 points, nine rebounds and four assists on 6-12 shooting.
Up Next
Laurier will get a chance to strike back at the Badgers at home this Saturday, November 6 at 6 p.m.
