Game Info – UQAM @ Bishop'sDate: Fri. Feb. 12, 2016Time: 8 p.m.Location: Mitchell GymTickets: www.gaiters.ca/tickets or at the doorWebcast: www.gaiters.ca/webcastVisitors: UQAM (6-6, T-3rd in RSEQ)Home: Bishop's (2-10, 5th in RSEQ)Last Meeting: 83-72, UQAM (in Lennoxville)BU Streak: L4Notes: Shoot for the CureSHERBROOKE, Que. – Friday night is pink night in Mitchell Gym when the Bishop's Gaiters men's basketball team will host the UQAM Citadins at 8 p.m. On the heels of the annual Shoot for the Cure event hosted by the women's team the men will step on the court as they look to keep their playoff hopes alive.
GILPIN GRATIFIED Rod Gilpin has accomplished many feats as a coach in the CIS; however one of his proudest accomplishments was when he came up with the idea for Shoot for the Cure.
"Everyone is touched by breast cancer at some point in their lives," said the Gaiters men's bench boss, who was leader of the women's team when the initiative took form. "We started with our annual tournament and saw just home many people this affected. From there it evolved into a national event. My inspiration was Kathy Shields who was dealing with breast cancer herself. She was a mentor to so many coaches, especially young coaches across the country. This was a way to honour her.
"The idea was the easy part. It is all the work the Women's Basketball Coaches Association and all the coaches across the country have put in to make it what it is today."
Stay tuned to
www.gaiters.ca for the complete interview with coach Gilpin on the roots of Shoot for the Cure.
UPSIDE DOWN 'Q'As of Thursday afternoon four of the five teams in the RSEQ had .500 records or better. Concordia and McGill sit atop the standings at 8-4 while UQAM and Laval are at 6-6. Bishop's is in fifth place at 2-10. Although their pulse is low, the Gaiters still have a chance at qualifying for the post-season. At this point they will need to win their remaining four contests and get some help along the way.
FRIENDLY FUTUREIn a season where the Gaiters have suffered four losses by less than seven points, the Gaiters can take comfort knowing the future is bright. Bishop's is led fourth year veteran
Jona Bermillo of Montreal. Behind him is a pair of newcomers who have bright futures. Montreal's Adbul Kamane is in the running to be the RSEQ's Rookie of the Year. He's scoring at a pace of 13.1 points per game and playing over 31 minutes per game. His 7.3 rebounds per game are second on the team, behind fellow rookie
Nick Harvey. Harvey is a Saint-Bruno, Que. native.
Peter Weston of Quebec City transferred to Bishop's in the offseason and despite battling lingering injuries has been a difference maker when he is on the court.
CITADINS SUCCESSUQAM has been led by the conference's second and third leading scorer's Kewyn Blain of St. Leonard and Greishe Clejuste of Montreal who average 17.7 and 16.8 points per game respectively. Blain also hauls in 7.3 rebounds each contest, tied with Kamane for third in the RSEQ. The all-round player is tops in the league by a wide margin at 6.5 assists per game and also leads in steals at 2.8 per contest. Inside Tunis' Yassin Debache has turned away 24 shots in 12 games, the most by any player in the RSEQ.
SO FAR THIS SEASONThe Citadins have chalked up six wins in 12 games; three of the victories have come against the Gaiters. UQAM topped Bishop's 79-65 in Montreal to hand Bishop's their first loss of the season. They then swept their foes from the Eastern Townships in a home-and-home series to start the second semester. UQAM rolled 70-44 in Montreal before sneaking away from Lennoxville with an 83-72 win.
NEXT UPAs the season comes to a close, Bishop's home schedule wraps up on Saturday, Feb. 20 against the Concordia Stingers at 8 p.m. in Mitchell Gym.
Don't miss a beat of Bishop's basketball; follow them anytime on social media using @BishopsGaiters or on the web at
www.gaiters.ca.
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