Keyano Huskies of Fort McMurray, AB will bring home their first Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) men’s basketball title after a 68-55 victory over George Brown Huskies of Toronto Saturday night.

In a battle between the Huskies played before a big crowd in the McCormack Gymnasium at Mount Allison University in Sackville, N.B., Keyano used a combination of inside scoring early and slick passing leading to second half points to claim the championship.

Guard DJ Haynes (6'0''-PG) led Keyano with 18 points, while big man Evan Meyer contributed 16 points and nine rebounds. Omeechi Williams (6'6''-F, college: NE Oklah.A&M) had 12 points and 11 boards, while tournament MVP Keenan Miller (6'5''-G, college: Big Bend CC) contributed 11.

Jeremiah Brown (6'6''-F) and Jevon Fray-Woodbine (6'0''-PG) each had 13 for George Brown.

Keyano shot only 2-19 from three-point range but won the battle of the boards by outrebounding George Brown 40-22, leading to a significant 36-14 edge in points in the paint.

George Brown came out hot from distance in the first quarter and took a 16-11 lead at the end of the first. With Keyano misfiring from the field, Coach Jeremy Wielenga changed tactics in the second.

Keyano found big man Evan Meyer deep in the paint and he found the basket on four consecutive shots, providing a shot of energy for his squad. George Brown scored at the 7:07 mark to take a four point lead, but that was the last basket they made for 6:30 as Keyano went on a 16-0 run.

The Keyano run was punctuated by a thunderous alley oop dunk from guard Tafari Carefoote-Jones to DJ Hayes with 1:30 to go in the half. Keyano went into the break up 34-24.

Haynes said after the final that his team stayed composed despite a couple of George Brown runs that closed the gap.

“They made some runs but you know they say when a pebble is thrown into the water, it creates some ripples but it eventually levels out. That’s what we had to remember and the guys stuck to our game plan,” Haynes explained.

Coach Wielenga said his team relied on defence to bring home the school’s first national title.

“I can’t comprehend what this will mean (to Keyano),” Wielenga said. “I remember what it meant to the community when we won the ACAC title so it’s going to be really meaningful to everyone.”

Courtesy of ccaa.ca

All-Tournament MVP: Keenan Miller (6'5''-G) of Keyano

Canadian CCAA 1st Team 2024

Miller

Tabiri

Sheets

Menzies

Brown

All-Tournament First Team
Keenan Miller (6'5''-G) of Keyano
Christian Tabiri (6'6''-F) of George Brown
Lucas Sheets (6'5''-F) of Camosun
Jalen Menzies (5'11''-PG-2000) of Humber
Jeremiah Brown (6'6''-F) of George Brown

Canadian CCAA All-Tournament Second Team 2024

Meyer

Vogel

Grant

Malanda

Ellison

All-Tournament Second Team
Evan Meyer (6'7''-F) of Keyano
Jesse Vogel (6'1''-G) of Camosun
Malik Grant (6'6''-PF) of Humber
Yanis Malanda (6'4''-SG) of Vanier
Tim Ellison (6'10''-F) of Mount Allison