The University of Otago men's team was beaten in its semifinal yesterday at the tertiary basketball national championships.
After advancing top of its group, the team fell 91-71 against the University of Canterbury in Christchurch.
Otago led 42-32 at halftime before UC gained a three-point lead in the final quarter and finished with a 29-12 blitz in the fourth quarter.
UC shot a handy 48% from the field, as opposed to Otago's 30%, while UC was able to clean up the extra rebounds, grabbing 62 to Otago's 41.
Former Otago Boys' High School guard Josh Petermann led the way for UC.
He finished with 25 points on 64% shooting, to go with nine assists, seven rebounds and four steals.
For Otago, Benoit Hayman finished with 28 points and nine rebounds, while Hamish Robertson had 21 points and six rebounds.
UC plays Lincoln University - which Otago beat in Monday's pool match - in tomorrow's final.
In the women's competition, first-day losses to the University of Victoria and Lincoln University had Otago fall out of top-four contention.
It came back with a 65-41 win over the University of Waikato yesterday.
The women's semifinals were played last night.
