Ottawa Gee-Gees, Johnny Berhanemeskel show why top CIS hoops teams beating NCAA foes in August is the new normal

It's hardly a shock any more when a CIS basketball squad beats a NCAA foe in an August exhibition game. The Ottawa Gee-Gees and Johnny Berhanemeskel once again illustrated why that's the new normal while pulling off a 79-76 comeback win over University of Illnois at Chicago Flames for their third win over a Division I team in four days.

Ottawa didn't have its best shooting night on Wednesday, unlike in its head-turning win three days earlier against the fabled Indiana Hoosiers. Yet the intimidation factor that was a reality for CIS teams not so long ago against NCAA teams wasn't there. The reigning CIS silver medallist trailed an athletic, tough mid-major by 10 points early in the fourth quarter, but chipped away with a string of stops and scores. In the final minute, Berhanemeskel drew an offensive foul on Illinois-Chicago guard D'Juan Miller, then sank a falling-out-of-bounds, tiebreaking three-pointer off a kick-out pass from point guard Mike L'Africain.

One should not take CIS vs. NCAA results too literally. The sparse attendance at some of these contests, even at Carleton and Ottawa, reflects that the public doesn't. There is a general lack of appreciation of the high-quality hoops taking place in Canada at this time of year.

Point being, though, it's no longer just Carleton who expects to beat mid-major D-1 teams that have scholarships, bigger budgets and a cut of a TV contract. On Wednesday alone, Ottawa beat Illinois-Chicago and the Windsor Lancers handled Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne. Even Queen's, typically an mid-pack team, lost by just five to the Mid-American Conference's Ohio Bobcats.

"Our culture's definitely changing," Berhanemeskel, who also went off for at least 25 points in Ottawa's earlier wins over Indiana and Vermont, said of how the Gee-Gees have strove to close the gap with Carleton. "Guys are putting in work, staying around in the summer, wanting to get that extra work whether it's video or shooting or in the weight room. Basketball is a simple sport. You get what you put in. That's what happening but there's a lot more work if we want to get to where we need to [win the CIS championship].

"This was our first time being down by so much and not giving up and fighting back to win against a NCAA team," added Berhanemeskel, who was 10-of-15 from the floor. "It was a good testament to what we want to do this season, especially when we're not hitting shots ... tough it out and squeeze out a win."

The Gee-Gees floor leader is a living illustration of the oft-obscured advantages of playing in Canada. Berhanemeskel did not elicit any interest from south of the border when he graduated from Ottawa's Lester B. Pearson high school in 2010. However, he's become an unflappable guard who hits the big shots that are usually vital to making a fourth-quarter push.

"That's part of being in Canada with fourth and fifth-year seniors," said Ottawa coach James Derouin. " You see our players develop over that time. This is testament to what kids can do if they in Canada and work hard on their games while playing their five years.

"Johnny was not a Division I recruit, but he's played 22-23 of these Division I games and always had success, going back to when he had 16 points against Cincinnati as a freshman. Look at the result of the training and the playing time. I don't think you could argue that he's not a Division I player now. That's what we're trying to preach to kids: if they stay in Canada, you just have to look at a kid like Johnny and what can happen to you. I don't think there's any question that he's going to go off and make some money [playing professionally overseas] after this season's over."

Still, the perception of the top CIS teams beyond Dave Smart's juggernaut has not caught up to the reality.

"We're coming here trying to beat these guys," adds Derouin, whose team will also face Memphis on Sunday. "In the past in these games, you'd see a big dunk or big three [from a NCAA team] and you'd see CIS teams tend to fold — 'oh here it goes.' Even the crowd on Sunday in Montreal, it was just waiting for Indiana to win. And then with a minute left they were like, 'oh, they [Ottawa] are going to win this game.' And they started cheering."

It's uncertain how often Ottawa will shoot 18-of-30 from three-point range against a good team like it did in that 109-101 win over Indiana. The Gee-Gees are always going to try, though, which is part of what makes them such a worthy foil to four-time defending CIS champion Carleton.

Illinois-Chicago had the hotter hand on Wednesday, with guard Gabriel Snider sinking eight triples on his way to 28 points. Few teams win when they try 44 threes — "maybe five were not good shots," Derouin said — but Ottawa made 15. That include going 6-of-11 from deep during the fourth-quarter rally. Third-year combo forward Caleb Agada was everywhere on the floor during that stretch, making up for the absence of injured centre Gabriel Gonthier-Dubue. L'Africain also finished with 14 points and five assists.

"They're a very good team," said Illinois-Chicago coach Howard Moore, whose team is part of the Horizon League conference that the Butler Bulldogs competed in when they went to back-to-back Final Fours in 2011 and '12. "They know where to get the shots from. They do a good job of sharing the ball — coming off of ball screens and skipping it to shooters. Dribble and drive and kick it to shooters. They're a really good team.

"These guys have really done a good job of enhancing the level of play both at the grassroots level and the collegiate level," Moore added.

Carleton, of course, gained further acclaim 12 months ago when it beat Wisconsin, an eventual Final Four team, and extending Syracuse and future Phoenix Suns first-round pick Tyler Ennis to overtime. Ottawa put up a decent fight against both powerhouses despite L'Africain missing the Syracuse game due to injury.

There's no knowing what exhibition wins over NCAA teams portend for the actual CIS season, which begins in October. In any event, Ottawa's start is a good prologue ahead of a season where Carleton's brother act of Phil Scrubb and Thomas Scrubb are shooting for a fifth title in a row.

"The way they [Illinois-Chicago] play is what makes this win special," Derouin said. "They're more athletic, physical, they were able push Mike [L'Africain] and push [6-foot-7 forward] Vikas [Gill]. We have small guys, finesse players and were able to overcome. That makes this win even more impressive.

"It has to mean a lot for these kids' confidence to win."

Being able to beat American competition usually improves the image of Canadian athletes, too. Time will tell.

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet.