FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
MBB: GAITERS AND STINGERS MATCH-UP FOR A PAIR THIS WEEKEND
February 3, 2016
 

Game Info Date Time Venue Tickets Webcast Notes Home Team Visiting Team Last Meeting Streak

Bishop's at Concordia Thursday, Feb. 4 8 p.m. Concordia Gymnasium (Montreal, Loyola Campus) Available at the Door or 514-848-2424, ext. 3898. http://portal.stretchinternet.com/cumo/ Bishop's Game Notes Concordia (6-4, 2nd in RSEQ) Bishop's (2-8, 5th in RSEQ) W 66-60, Nov. 28, 2015 at Concordia L2

 

Game Info Date Time Venue Tickets Webcast Notes

Concordia at Bishop's Saturday, Feb. 6 8 p.m. Mitchell Gym (Lennoxville, Que.) Available at the Door or www.gaiters.ca/tickets www.gaiters.ca/webcast   Bishop's Game Notes

 
 
SHERBROOKE, Que. – The Concordia Stingers bye week could not have come at a worse time for them.  They are the hottest team in the RSEQ University men's basketball conference after sweeping McGill two weeks ago in a home-and-home series, but had last weekend off. Bishop's will have their hands full as they face the Stingers twice this weekend, on Thursday night in Montreal and Saturday in Lennoxville. Both games tip-off at 8 p.m.
 
Concordia Story
The Stingers are winners of four straight in conference play including sweeping the previously second ranked team in the CIS, the McGill Redmen two weeks ago, the last time they were on the hardwood.  Concordia is coming off its bye will and will look to keep pace with the first-place Redmen.  The Stingers boast the stingiest defence having allowed the fewest points per game and lowest field goal percentage in the RSEQ. They also come at opponents with a balanced attack having only one player, Ken Beaulieu (14.6 PPG, 5^th), in the top-10 in 13 in scoring.
 
Bishop's Story
Bishop's will need to turn on the boosters and get some help if they hope to repeat as RSEQ Champions.  The Gaiters are currently six points out of a playoff spot with six games remaining, however UQAM, the team they are chasing currently has any tie-breaker meaning Bishop's would need to finish ahead of them in the standings. The Gaiters will have a positive mojo this weekend as they are 1-0 against the Stingers entering Thursday's contest. 
 
The Last Time
In their final game of the first semester Bishop's traveled to Montreal to face Concordia.  On the heels of dropping three games to open the year the Gaiters clawed out a 66-60 win over the Stingers. Jona Bermillo led the way for the purple with 19 points that included a 4-9 performance from behind the arc. Three other Gaiters also scored in double figures. Former Gaiter Jaleel Webb score 17 in the losing cause for Concordia.
 
Fantastic Freshman
Vanier College product Abdul Kamane has made a smooth transition to the CIS game.  He's currently ninth in the RSEQ in scoring averaging 13.3 points per game, tops among freshmen. His 7.4 rebounds per game and 1.5 steals per game place him second a sixth respectively in the RSEQ.  He is also on the court 31.9 minutes each contest, eighth most in the RSEQ.

Clutch Captains
Gaiters' vets and captains David Belanger and Jona Bermillo are not only leaders off the court they are having their play lead the team on the hardwood too.  Belanger leads the conference in field goal percentage (.577) and is 10^th in scoring (12.2 points per game).  He also converted 20 of 28 attempts from the charity stripe.
 
Bermillo is the team's leading scorer at 14.9 points per game, placing him fourth in the RSEQ. The combo guard has also dished out 3.3 assists per game (3^rd in RSEQ), and has 2.3 steals per game (T-2^nd in RSEQ). The fourth-year sharp shooter has also made the second most three-pointers at 29 in 10 games and is sixth in the conference in three-point field goal percentage (.382).
 
Coach Gilpin's Thoughts
"Concordia is the hottest team in the league," said Rod Gilpin, head coach of the Gaiters. "It's not an easy task to sweep anyone in a home and home series and they did it against a tough McGill team. I think they deserve to be in the (CIS) top-10 and might not be getting the respect they deserve across the country."
 
Watch
Thursday at Concordia: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/cumo/
Saturday at Bishop's: www.gaiters.ca/webcast
 
Tickets
Tickets for Saturday's games are available at www.gaiters.ca/tickets.
 
Follow & Get Involved
Twitter: @BishopsGaiters
Instagram: @BishopsGaiters
Facebook Page: Bishop's Gaiters
Snap Chat: Bishop's Gaiter
You Tube: Bishop's Gaiters
Website: www.gaiters.ca.
 
Look Ahead
Bishop's will host UQAM on Friday, Feb. 12 at 8 p.m. That game will be part of the annual Shoot for the Cure festivities that will be taking place at Bishop's.
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