WELLAND, ON. The Redeemer Royals men's basketball team hit the road to face the Niagara Knights on Wednesday, February 5, but despite some strong individual performances, they couldn't quite keep up with the home team, falling 88-66.

From the start, Niagara set the tone. They outpaced the Royals early, finishing the first quarter with a solid 26-16 lead. Redeemer had a tough time getting things going, and things didn't improve much in the second quarter. Niagara's defense stifled the Royals, limiting their offensive opportunities, and by halftime, the Knights had opened up a 40-22 lead.

In the third, the Royals showed some fight, but Niagara's offense kept rolling, and they widened the gap to 71-41 by the end of the quarter. Though the Royals battled until the final whistle, the game was all but decided as Niagara cruised to an 88-66 win.

On the bright side, a few Royals stood out with strong performances. Parker Davis led the team with 17 points and 7 rebounds, giving the Royals a solid presence on both ends of the floor. Brendan Morris also finished with 17 points, helping to keep the scoreboard ticking for Redeemer. Adam Pavlik, with 11 points and 9 rebounds, came up just short of a double-double, showing hustle and heart in the paint.

Redeemer Men's basketball is officially eliminated from OCAA playoff contention. The Royals travel to Windsor, ON to face the St. Clair Saints in their season finale on Saturday.