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Box Score 2 SHERBROOKE, Que. – Reigning RSEQ University Men's Basketball Player of the Year
Mike Andrews returned to form and rookie
Dave Belanger played his two best games in a Gaiters uniform as Bishop's split a home-and-home series with the Laval Rouge et Or on the weekend. Bishop's rolled to an 87-76 victory on Friday night in Mitchell Gym before falling 85-74 on Saturday night in Quebec City.
The fourth-year forward Andrews (Oakville, Ont.) showed why he was the 2013 RSEQ Player of the Year. He scored 14 points on 7-for-10 shooting while adding six rebounds, three blocks, and two assists in 22 minutes of playing time on Friday night.
Friday night's victory came at a cost for Bishop's. On Saturday they found themselves without three players who were on the court for more than 20 minutes the previous night. Sophomore guard
Jona Bermillo (Montreal), fourth-year 6-foot-9 forward Matt McClean (Ottawa) and fourth-year 6-foot-11 forward
Majid Naji (Lunel, France) all sat out in the provincial capital.
Andrews was once again excellent on Saturday night as he scored 24 points on 9-for-11 shooting, grabbed 10 rebounds and added an assist and a block. He was complimented in the post by Belanger (Sherbrooke, Que.) who also scored 24 points on 10-for-15 shooting in 35 minutes on the court. Belanger also had a strong game on Friday night with 17 points, 10 rebounds and an assist.
"I was really happy with the way we were able to get the ball into the post," said Gaiters head coach
Rod Gilpin after Friday night's win. "Mike played the best game of the year and we had great support all-around.
"Injuries are part of the game," he added after Saturday night's loss. "No excuses, we have to focus on our two games against McGill."
The split leaves Bishop's (6-2) tied for first place with the McGill Redmen (6-2). McGill split a pair with the Concordia Stingers (6-4) who are trying to keep pace at the top of the standings. Laval (3-7) grabbed the upper hand on the fourth and final playoff spot however UQAM (1-7) still has two games in hand.
Bishop's now prepares for two of its biggest games of the year against the Redmen. They play in Montreal on Thursday night at 8 p.m. and in Mitchell Gym on Saturday at 8 p.m.
Follow Bishop's as they shoot for the playoffs at
www.gaiters.ca.
Bishop's Beat: The Gaiters shot 53.8% from the floor on Friday night, including 64.4% from two-point range … Saturday they could only muster a 40% effort, however were just 3-for-17 from three-point land … Friday night Bishop's outrebounded Laval 48-30, Saturday it was Laval with the advantage 39-38.
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