There's nothing like a big victory to prepare a team for its own tournament.

We're talking about the George Brown College men's basketball team and the 36

First the game - and another George Brown victory.

The Huskies with nine players scoring points thumped Lambton College of Sarnia, 93-77, in an exhibition game at St. James.

Three Huskies scored in double digits with Vadim Halimov, the top scorer in Canadian College basketball this season, leading the offensive display with a game-high 27 points.

Akai Nettey, with his best game of the season, scored 26 points and was 5-for-5 from the three-point line and 19 points in the first half. Emmanuel Mukuna, coming off his splendid showing in a win over Redeemer University College a few days ago, added 16 points.

George Brown led from start to finish with quarter scores of 25-17, 49-36 and 71-59.

Just a great effort from the entire team, said an elated head coach Jonathan Smith. Victories over potential (OCAA) cross-over teams is huge for us.

At the midway season of the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association season, George Brown had an 8-2 record, third best in the 21-school league and second spot in the East Division. Lambton, with a 4-5 record, is in sixth spot in the West Division.

Meanwhile, the Huskies open the GBC tournament on Friday, Jan. 3 against Cambrian College with a tip-off at 6:00pm.

Earlier, Fanshawe of London meets Georgian of Barrie at 2:00pm, Humber takes on St. Lawrence of Kingston at 4pm with the final game of the single elimination knockout putting Durham of Oshawa against Dawson of Montreal.

Semifinal championship and consolation round games are on Saturday with the title game at 7:30pm. All games are at the St. James Campus. - DG