SHERBROOKE, Que. – The Bishop's University men's basketball team will face the McGill Redmen twice in the coming weekend.  First place in RSEQ men's university basketball will be on the line when they meet in Montreal on Thursday night and play in Lennoxville, Que. for the annual Bishop's Winter Homecoming on Saturday.  Both games will tip at 8 p.m. 

The Gaiters (6-2) defended home court but lost as the visitor to the Laval Rouge et Or (3-7) last weekend.  They won 87-76 at home but burdened with injury fell 85-74 to Laval in Quebec City.  Freshmen Dave Belanger (Sherbrooke, Que.) was impressive scoring, a career high, 24 points as a Gaiter and grabbed nine boards.  Mike Andrews (Oakville, Ont.) also had 24 points and 10 rebounds in Saturday's loss. 
 
McGill (6-2) suffered a 69-67 loss at Concordia (6-4) but won 70-49 at home last weekend.  McGill beat the Gaiters 81-63 back in late November.  The Gaiters and McGill currently share the top of the RSEQ standings. The Redmen and Gaiters also are first and second in the RSEQ in assists (19.3 and 13.5) and steals (11.1 and 8.3 respectively) per game.  Bishop's leads the RSEQ with 4.5 blocks per game on the shoulders of Andrews who is second in the CIS averaging 2.1 per game.  McGill's Francois Bourque (Terrebonne, Que.) is seventh in the CIS and leads the RSEQ with 9.5 rebounds per game. 
 
"First place doesn't have the value it used," said Gaiters head coach Rod Gilpin.  "That being said we want to play our best basketball in February.  I think we've showed glimpses what we are capable of but have not quite put it all together.  We want to do that as we roll into the playoffs.  The team that wins our league will be the team that is playing the best in February."
 
Bishop's and McGill hope to face each other in the RSEQ Final Four being held at the new 3000-seat PEPS Gymnasium in Quebec City hosted by the Laval Rouge et Or on Mar. 1-2. 
 
The Gaiters and Redmen tip-off this weekend with top spot in the RSEQ on the line.  Thursday night tip in Love Competition Hall at 8 p.m. and Saturday in Mitchell Gym at 8 p.m.  Both games will be available live online:
 
Friday: http://www.ssncanada.ca/game/5746/
Saturday: http://live.streamit.ca/?player=2129
 
For news anytime on the purple and silver check out www.gaiters.ca
 
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Clare Webb
Sports Information Writer