ANCASTER, ON - The Redeemer Royals men's basketball team took on the ultimate challenge Wednesday night, November 12, as they hosted the defending national champions and current No. 1 ranked Humber Hawks. Humber entered the matchup with a perfect 5-0 record and welcomed back reigning national player of the year Malik Grant, who wasted no time making his presence felt.

From the opening tip, Humber dictated the tempo, pushing the pace, attacking the rim, and capitalizing on transition opportunities. Their defensive intensity set the tone as well, forcing turnovers and turning them into fast-break points. The Hawks recorded 17 steals as a team, many of which led directly to baskets in transition, creating early separation on the scoreboard.

Redeemer worked to find their footing offensively but struggled to connect from long range against Humber's defense. Despite the uphill battle, the Royals regrouped after halftime and put together an impressive third quarter, going nearly shot-for-shot with the Hawks and being outscored by only five points in the frame.

When the final buzzer sounded, Humber secured a 123-71 victory, showing why they sit atop the national rankings.

A standout performance for Redeemer came from Parker Davis, who went head-to-head with Malik Grant, matching him with a co-game-high 32 points. First-year guard Jack Nirula also had a strong showing, contributing 8 points, his highest total so far in his rookie season.

Redeemer is back in action this Saturday on the road when they visit the Niagara Knights. 

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