SHERBROOKE, Que. – Quebec City's Peter Weston scored a game-high 24 points to propel the Gaiters to an 83-75 win over the UQAM Citadins on Friday night in Mitchell Gym.  The victory kept the Gaiters' RSEQ University Men's Basketball playoff hopes alive.
 
Weston was one of four Gaiters to score in double figures on the night as Bishop's chalked up its first win against the Citadins in its fourth attempt this year.  Supporting Weston, who also connected on five triples, was rookie sensation Abdul Kamane of Montreal. He tallied 15 points and hauled in eight rebounds.  Jona Bermillo who also hails from Montreal scored 15 points as well and added a team best four assists and Austin Macklem of Kingston, Ont. chalked up a career-best 11 points in the winning cause.
 
Bishop's got off to a roaring start.  They led 19-8 after the first stanza and 40-30 at halftime.  UQAM clawed their way back but could not get the lead inside one possession in the fourth quarter and the Gaiters hung on for their first win in Mitchell Gym this season by a final of 83-75.
 
UQAM out-rebounded Bishop's 52-45 but the Gaiters were able to fire off 12 more shots than the Citadins.  From behind the arc, Bishop's was 10-30 while UQAM only connected three times on 16 attempts.
 
Leading the way for the Citadins was Yassin Debache of Tunis, Tunisia who registered a double-double of 16 points and 14 rebounds. Troyes, France's Julien Girard chipped in with 15 points while Charles Miller of Montreal scored 14.  The Gaiters defense held Kewyn Blain of St. Leonard, Que. and Greishe Clerjuste of Montreal in check. The conferences second and third leading scorers were only able to score eight and nine points. They have been averaging 17.7 and 16.8 points respectively on the year. Blain battled foul trouble and saw just 15 minutes of action while Clerjuste played 36 minutes.
 
"It was nice to finally get a win at home," said Gaiters head coach Rod Gipin. "I felt we played well and had a bit of luck. Getting Blain into foul trouble was key for us as it forced Clerjuste into a different role and affected his ability to score.
 
"Pete (Weston) got back to playing at the level he was at before his injury.  We need him to be a factor for us at the offensive end. Austin (Macklem) gave us a huge boost off the bench in the second half. We see the skill he has in practice and this was the first time the freshman was able to transfer it to the game."               
 
The Gaiters playoff hopes live on for another week as they still must win their remaining three contests and get help from Laval's opponents along the way.  Bishop's now sits at 3-10 on the year while Laval and UQAM are both at 6-7.  UQAM holds any tie breaker over the Gaiters having beaten them three times this year. Bishop's trails 2-1 in the season series to the Rouge et Or but have a contest remaining with their closest foe.
 
Next up for Bishop's are the Concordia Stingers who visit Lennoxville on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. It will be the final home game for the Gaiters in the 2015-16 season.
 
Stay up-to-date with Bishop's anytime at www.gaiters.ca or on social media using @BishopsGaiters.
 
Note: Prior to the game Gilpin addressed the Gaiters faithful as he held the pink Shoot for the Cure ball in his hand.  The ball has been travelling coast-to-coast as the women's basketball programs run their events to support breast cancer foundations.  The initiative was the brainchild of Gilpin when he was patrolling the sidelines for the Gaiters women's team.  Watch a complete interview with him about the cause at: https://youtu.be/8NVVd9Lfrhg.
 
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