Box Score SHERBROOKE – Sophomore Jona Bermillo scored 21 points and the Gaiters remained undefeated on the year after an 80-69 victory over the Laval Rouge et Or on Friday night in Mitchell Gym. Bishop's remains tied atop the RSEQ University men's basketball standings with the McGill Redmen at 3-0.
 
Friday night's contest was one of streaks. Laval (0-2) was on fire in the opening quarter and grabbed a 26-19 lead.  The torrent pace calmed down a bit as the Gaiters (3-0) defense tightened up and only allowed nine points in the second while scoring 17 of their own to grab a 36-34 advantage at the break.
 
The Rouge et Or made it clear from the start they were not going to let reigning RSEQ Player of the Year Mike Andrews (Oakville, Ont.) beat them. He was frequently double teamed in the post forcing perimeter shooting.  Unfortunately for Bishop's they were only able to go 2-for-16 from behind the arc in the opening half. They ended up finishing the game at 4-for-25. Bermillo (Montreal) made one of those triples but was more effective when penetrating and pulling up to shoot. His 21 points came on 8-for-18 shooting while Andrews was held to just 2-for-6 and seven total points.
 
The third stanza saw Bishop's continue to control the flow and extend their advantage to 59-48 much to the delight of a boisterous Mitchell Gym crowd.
 
A veteran Rouge et Or squad refused to give in and went on a run to start the fourth quarter. After the hosts extended their lead to 11, Laval went on a 15-2 run and grabbed a 67-65 lead with 4:47 remaining. Fourth-year forward Majid Naji (Lunel, France) hit a big jump shot to re-energize the crowd and the Gaiters.  That tied the game for the final time and kick-started an 8-0 Bishop's run as they never looked back.  Rookie Jaleel Webb (Montreal) knocked down a three-pointer as time expired to give Bishop's an 80-69 win and set up a first-place showdown on Thursday night in Montreal when the Gaiters face the Redmen (3-0).
 
"It was a tough game and I expected that," said Gaiters bench boss Rod Gilpin. "There were some positives and some negatives but Laval is going to be a tough game every time we play them.
 
"We were undisciplined defensively and made some mistakes we had talked about not making and it allowed them to get on a run.
 
"I was expecting them to be tough and double team the post. It's something I think we are going to see all year. It's fine; we spend time working on those things. I was disappointed with how we shot the ball from the three-point line.  We aren't a great shooting team but we are better than what we showed."
 
The Gaiters now enter their final week before the Christmas break.  They will play the McGill Redmen in a battle for first place in the RSEQ on Thursday, November 28.  Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. in Love Competition Hall.
 
Follow the first place Gaiters throughout the year at www.gaiters.ca.
 
BISHOP'S BEAT: Bermillo added an assist, 4 rebounds and 3 steals to go along with his game-high 21 points…Naji was 6-10 en route 13 points. He also grabbed 4 rebounds, had 2 blocks and 2 steals.  Veterans Matt McLean (Ottawa) and Scott Ring (Ottawa) both had 11 points while point guard Ring added 5 assists and 2 steals and did not commit a turnover.  As a team Bishop's was 31-65 (47.7 %) from the floor, but just 4-25 (16%) from behind the arc. They were out-rebounded 37-35 and gave up 16 offensive boards while grabbing 11 of their own.  The Gaiters had 14 assists, just 9 turnovers and 14 steals while Laval turned the ball over 20 times.
 
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