The monkey is finally off the backs of the No. 12 nationally ranked Mohawk Mountaineers men's basketball after they won their first OCAA playoff game since the 2015-16 season, defeating the Algonquin Wolves 96-77.

With the win the Mountaineers have clinched their spot into the OCAA Championship tournament next weekend at St. Clair College.

Despite the final score the OCAA qualifying game was not easy for Mohawk – the second seed from the OCAA West division. The Mountaineers jumped out to a 25-16 lead in the opening quarter, but the Wolves answered with an 18-3 run to start the second quarter.

"That was a very hard-fought win and I didn't think we handled the adversity well in the first half," said head coach Brian Jonker.

Mohawk would answer with a 10-0 run of their own late in the second quarter and head into the break leading 46-45.

The Mountaineers would control majority of the second half to earn the victory.

"I thought we did a good job when we applied ball pressure and we did a nice job of forcing the tempo," said Jonker. "The second half we stuck together and didn't let the negative situations effect us as much."

Daniel Graham (Hamilton, ON) had a game-high 27 points and Jerry Jr. Mercury (Scarborough, ON) continues to be a double-double machine with 24 points and 11 rebounds.

Stefan Anisko (Haldimand County, ON) came off the bench to provide 15.

Mohawk will play in their OCAA quarter-final game on March 3 versus the Humber Hawks. Details for a start time are still to be determined.