Big game on big stage

Meridian Centre twin bill features top two seeds in men’s hoops

University basketball is coming to downtown St. Catharines early next month when Brock hosts Carleton in a doubleheader at Meridian Centre.

While the women’s game tipping off at 6 p. m. Saturday, Dec. 2, and the men’s game two hours later are being billed as regularseason games, more than that will be on the line for the men’s teams.

With the seven- time defending champion Ravens currently seeded No. 1 in Canada and the Badgers behind in second in the national rankings, the mid- season clash of titans has all the makings of a playoff preview — for the U Sports national championship.

The men’s game also will be a rematch of last season’s Ontario University Athletics ( OUA) semifinal in Ottawa. The Ravens defeated the Badgers 89- 64 on their way to capturing the Canadian championship as the second seed from the conference.

Brock rebounded from that loss by edging the Ottawa GeeGees 69- 67 for the bronze medal, the program’s first medal since 2008 when the Badgers also beat Ottawa to finish third in the OUA.

Brock is 8- 0 in league play and 15- 3 overall heading into a home game tonight against the McMaster Marauders, 1- 6, at Bob Davis Gymnasium.

Carleton, 7- 0 in the conference, also returns to the court tonight. The Ravens are home to the 0- 6 Lakehead Thunderwolves.

The Carleton women, 7- 0, are the defending Critelli Cup OUA champions, while the Badgers have started the season 4- 4.

Brock’s women’s team will also see action against McMaster tonight. The Marauders are 502.

Tickets for the Meridian Centre doubleheader have been available online since Nov. 9. A limited number of free tickets for Brock students will become available beginning Monday.

The twin bill in downtown St. Catharines will be the second of back- to- back games for the Badgers. They host Ottawa Friday at Bob Davis Gymnasium.