Buzzer-beater lifts Algoma

A last-second layup sealed a perfect home weekend for the Algoma University basketball teams in Ontario University Athletics action on Saturday night.

Nathan Riley drove to the basket and hit a layup with 0.8 seconds to go in regulation as the Algoma men beat Waterloo 80-78 at the George Leach Centre.

The bucket capped off a big night for Riley and a weekend that saw Algoma sweep games against Waterloo in both men’s and women’s basketball action.

Riley led Algoma with 24 points in Saturday’s win and added four rebounds and three steals for the home team, who trailed by 11 at the half before cutting the lead to three after three quarters.

Nick Gehlen added 22 points for Algoma while Jermaine Lyle had 19.

Elijah Butler had 19 rebounds for Algoma, 14 of which came at the defensive end of the court.

Waterloo’s Nedim Hodzic had 29 points and 14 rebounds.

Simon Petrov chipped in with 22 points for Waterloo.

In Saturday’s women’s game, Dionne Martin had 27 points and nine rebounds for Algoma in a 53-50 win over Waterloo. Karina Cole had 15 points and nine rebounds for Algoma.

Kaitlyn Overeem led Waterloo with 14 points and 12 rebounds.

On Friday night, the Algoma men got 25 points and eight rebounds from Riley in a 94-90 win, also over Waterloo. 

Lyle had 15 points while Gehlen also hit double digits with 13 points for the home team.

Hodzic had 31 points and 12 rebounds for Waterloo in Friday’s game while Petrov added 26.

Friday’s women’s game saw Algoma hold off a fourth quarter push by Waterloo and open the weekend with a 62-60 win.

Karly Francalanza had 17 points for Algoma while Martin added 14 and Cole had 12.

Overeem led all scorers in the game with 17 for Waterloo.

With the victories, the Algoma women improve to 4-8 on the season while the men’s team is also 4-8 through 12 games.

Both Algoma teams are on the road next weekend in London where they face Western. The teams then return home the following weekend for games against Wilfrid Laurier.