Written by Thomas Scott
After a thrilling 77-67 overtime victory over the StFX X-Men at Halifax’s Scotiabank Centre to win the AUS title, the Dalhousie Tigers will play for a national medal in Laval, Que., for the U SPORTS Final 8 from March 8-10.
“After finishing last year on a down, it feels incredible. It's the best feeling in the world,” says third-year guard Nginyu Ngala.
The Tigers are rolling at the perfect time, making the Final 8 for the first time since 2022. They now prepare to face the Brock Badgers in the quarter-final on Friday at 8pm EST, which can be watched on CBC Sports and CBC Gem. The Badgers lost in the OUA final 79-76 on a buzzer-beating shot from the Queens Gaels. The Badgers have shocked many this season and went into the OUA playoffs as the 10th seed.
Brock lit it up from beyond the arc in the playoffs, shooting 39.8 per cent, and making the most 3-pointers in the OUA playoffs. The Badgers also locked it up defensively in the playoffs, allowing the second least amount of points per game at 69.5.
Dal captured the fourth seed for the U SPORTS Final 8 hosted by the Laval Rouge et Or, with Brock coming in as the fifth seed.
Dal had a remarkable run themselves. In the semi-final of the AUS Championship against the Halifax rival SMU Huskies, Dal cruised to a 90-75 victory powered by 37 points from Ngala, tied for seventh most in playoff history by an AUS player.
“From the first shot I missed, it sounds crazy, but I kind of knew the next ones were falling. The basket felt wide open all game,” says Ngala.
AUS MVP Malcolm Christie dropped 27 points in the dominant victory over SMU as the Tigers led by as many as 23.
In the AUS final, Dal faced the reigning AUS champion and national silver medalist X-Men. Dal mauled the X-Men at Dalplex a week prior in a 100-79 win.
However, Dal knew StFX, the defending AUS champions, would fire back. Just as Dal thought they had taken home a 10th AUS title, Dondre Reddick hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer and tied the game to send the game to overtime.
“The gym was exploding, but everyone on our team was so focused on ourselves,” says Christie. “We’ve got five more minutes. There's no reason we can't go finish this. The only reason they're in this game is that shot; this is our game.”
This did not deter the Tigers, especially fourth-year guard Sam Maillet. After attempting just two field goals and scoring one point against SMU, Maillet went off against StFX, scoring six points in the fourth quarter and six points in overtime. The 2021-22 AUS Defensive Player of the Year hit several perimeter shots to bring the Tigers to victory.
“I always try to make things happen for this team," says Maillet. "In the fourth quarter and overtime, it just so happened that me making things happen was being able to score and knock down a few shots and make some plays happen. Things worked out.”
Maillet finished with 19 points and eight rebounds, missing just one field goal.
“I think Sam willed us to that win. He wasn't going to be stopped,” Christie says.
“He's the leader and motor of our team,” he says.
The Tigers now head to U SPORTS Final 8 in Laval, Que., hosted by Université Laval. Ngala will be looking to bring Dal its first-ever national gold medal in men's basketball in his home province.
“Being able to go home and play in front of my family after not playing in front of my loved ones for four years is an incredible feeling,” says Ngala. “I don't even know how to describe it. I'll play every game like it's my last for them.”
Christie, who averaged 24 points per game during the AUS Championship weekend and won tournament MVP, is confident in his squad.
“I think if we play the way we played this past weekend, I don't see why we couldn't do something special,” says the third-year commerce major. “This team is so close. We're all like brothers.”
Tune in to watch the Dalhousie Tigers take on the Brock Badgers on Friday at 8pm EST on CBC Sports and CBC Gem.