![\"\"](\"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/OUASemi-3.jpg\")
<\/a>Cassidy Ryan drives to the net in Wednesday\u2019s OUA semifinal game at Bob Davis Gymnasium.<\/p><\/div>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s extremely frustrating. It was a game we knew we could win,\u201d said senior Dani Elgadi, who led the Badgers with 20 points and eight rebounds in the loss. \u201cThe crowd got us a little hyped and we were edgy in the first quarter. It just took us a while to settle in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brock trailed Ryerson early in the game, but came back to tie it at 16-16 and led 21-20 after the first quarter. From there, a combination of foul trouble and a frustrating lack of shots dropping allowed the Rams to take a 34-23 lead by the six\u2013minute mark of the second and a 39-35 lead at the half.<\/p>\n
An even third quarter didn\u2019t change the margin, and then more shooting struggles \u2014 both from the floor and at the foul line \u2014 continued to hurt the Badgers in the final quarter. A three-pointer at the buzzer from Ibrahim Ngom helped close the gap slightly, but it would have to have been a nine-pointer for it to have made a difference.<\/p>\n
As Ryerson players and coaches poured onto the court, the Badgers gathered at centre court before being consoled by fans and family.<\/p>\n
Behind Elgadi, Tyler Brown had nine points and Johneil Simpson had eight. For Ryerson, Ammanuel Diressa led his team with 19.<\/p>\n
After the game, Brock head coach Charles Kissi acknowledged the team\u2019s shooting percentage (28.1 per cent for field goals, 22.2 for three pointers and 69.7 for free throws) simply wasn\u2019t good enough.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe didn\u2019t shoot the ball very well today,\u201d he said. \u201cWe don\u2019t have any excuse for missing open shots. At this level, if you want to win a national title, you have to hit those.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kissi said the team will do its best to forget about Wednesday\u2019s loss and refocus on the wild card slot.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not done yet,\u201d Elgadi said. \u201cWe have a mission. We\u2019ve always wanted to go to Nationals. So if we get that opportunity with the wild card, we\u2019ll take advantage of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
For ticket information on Friday’s hockey game, visit GoBadgers.ca<\/a><\/p>\n Note: <\/em><\/strong>During the basketball game, three of Brock\u2019s championship-winning varsity teams were recognized. The Badgers men\u2019s and women\u2019s wrestling teams both won USPORTS national championships recently while the Badgers men\u2019s curling team won an OUA provincial title and will compete in the nationals March 24 to 28 in Alberta.<\/p>\n