SHERBROOKE, Que. – Fourth-year captain David Belanger (Sherbrooke, Que./Champlain-St. Lambert) tallied 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Bishop's Gaiters over Laval in the back-end of a home-and-home series with the Rouge et Or on Saturday in Lennoxville.  Friday night the two tipped-off in Quebec City with Bishop's also earning the victory.
 
The Gaiters got off to a sizzling start on Saturday and took 12-2 lead. It set the tone for the game, one they never trailed in. Belanger (Sherbrooke, Que.) who had an efficient game started strong scoring six points in the first frame on 3-4 shooting. Bishop's ended the stanza with a 23-9 advantage.
 
Bishop's out-raced Laval 23-19 in a high-powered second quarter to grab a 48-28 halftime lead.
Joany Castor-Thadal (Saint-Leonard, Que./Champlain-St. Lambert) (Saint-Leonard, Que.) had the 540 Mitchell Gym fans erupting as he heated up from behind the arc, connecting on all three of his attempts in the frame for the Gaiters.
 
A solid third quarter where Bishop's extended their lead to 22 allowed them to coast home in the fourth and earn an 84-69 victory, their second straight win.
 
Belanger led the way for Bishop's with his 15 points on 7-10 shooting and nine rebounds, six of them coming at the offensive end. Four other Gaiters reached double figures. Castor-Thadal finished with 12 points off of four made triples, Nick Harvey (Saint-Bruno, Que. /Champlain-St. Lambert) (Saint-Bruno, Que) tallied 14, Owen Martel (Erin, Ont./Georgetown D.H.S. ) (Erin, Ont.) 12 and Abdul Kamane (Montreal, Que./Vanier College ) (Montreal) 10.
 
As a team Bishop's was 48.5 per cent from the floor and held Laval to 37 per cent shooting.
 
"I was worried after last night," said Gaiters bench boss Rod Gilpin. "I think last night was an important win, we needed it.  It gave us confidence. We had an opportunity to win our first four games but maybe didn't have the belief that we have now. We played hard tonight just like last night.  We talked about complacency but showed up ready to play.
 
"Dave (Belanger) played the way a fourth year post who plays hard, trains and works at his game should.  He and Jona Bermillo (Montreal, Que./Vanier College) were leaders that's what you need out of your veterans. They are a huge part of our success."
 
For the visitors Frantson Demosthene (Port-au-Prince, Haiti) led all scorers with 17 points.  He also had 12 rebounds to finish with a 'double-double'.  Karl Demers-Belanger (Quebec, Que) and Joel Muamba (Montreal) rounded out the scorers with double figures scoring 15 and 13 respectively.
 
Laval (9-14, 4-4) head into a bye week currently sitting in second place in the RSEQ.
 
The Gaiters (6-10, 2-4) have a pair of big games on the slate next weekend.  They play a home-and-home series with the UQAM Citadins (15-14, 3-5) starting on Friday night at 8 p.m. in Mitchell Gym.  UQAM currently holds the fourth and final playoff spot. The Gaiters are one win behind however have played two less games. The two will play the back end in Montreal on Saturday.
 
Friday's contest at Bishop's is part of the #BellLetsTalk campaign to keep the conversation going about mental health.  The Gaiters and 52 other U Sports schools are teaming up as #oneteamformentalhealth.
 
Stay up-to-date anytime with the Gaiters at www.gaiters.ca or on social media using @BishopsGaiters.
 
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