WATERLOO, Ont. – A double-double by Ammar Hassan (London, Ont.) lifted the Ontario Tech men's basketball program to their first-ever exhibition game victory on Thursday afternoon.
 
The Ridgebacks defeated the McMaster Marauders 89-80 in their opening game of the Naismith Classic at the University of Waterloo.  
 
Similar to Tuesday night against Windsor, the Ridgebacks were slow to start, trailing McMaster 28-17 after a quarter. By halftime they had closed the gap to three points. Ontario Tech won each of the final two quarters, 17-13 and 29-25 en route to their victory.
 
Hassan dropped a game-high 27 points, with 16 boards for his 14th double-double as a Ridgeback.
 
D'on Duncan (Calgary, Alta.) and AJ Cummings (Oshawa, Ont.) each scored 11 for Ontario Tech, the only other Ridgebacks in double-digit scoring.
 
McMaster's scoring was led by Mychael Paulo, who dropped 21 for the Marauders. He also tied for a team-high five boards.
 
Ontario Tech faces the host Waterloo Warriors Friday at 6 p.m. Click here to scores, stats and more from the tournament.

RIDGEBACKS AT A GLANCE
Overall Record (W-L): 1-1
Conference Record (W-L): 0-0

Next game: Friday, Oct. 15 @ Waterloo Warriors (6 p.m. – Naismith Classic – Waterloo, Ont.)