SHERBROOKE, Que. – Four UQAM players scored in double figures as the Citadins (16-14, 4-5) won 70-61 over the Bishop's Gaiters (6-11, 2-5) in RSEQ University men's basketball action on Friday night in Lennoxville. The two teams will turn around in less than 24 hours when they tip-off in Montreal on Saturday.
 
Nick Harvey (Saint-Bruno, Que. /Champlain-St. Lambert) (Saint Bruno, Que.) opened the contest with a three-pointer to send the 639 patrons in Mitchell Gym into a frenzy as they celebrated #BellLetsTalk night. Unfortunately for Bishop's the advantage was short-lived as UQAM battled back in a high-scoring first frame and took a 24-15 lead. 
 
The teams swapped runs and momentum in the second stanza with UQAM ultimately winning the frame 11-10 to grab a 35-25 halftime edge. The advantage was thanks to firing 39.4 per cent from the field compared to just 28.1 per cent for the host Gaiters.
 
Bishop's continued to struggle from the field through the third quarter, only scoring 12 points compared to UQAM's 17.  The hole proved to be too much for the Gaiters to climb out of despite their best effort.
 
Thanks to a run the Gaiters were able to cut the lead to just five with 1:24 remaining.  It was as close as Bishop's got thanks to a transition hoop and clutch free throw shooting by the Citadins.  The Gaiters outscored UQAM 24-18 in the final frame but came up on the short end of a 70-61 decision.
 
Harvey finished with a double-double scoring 14 points to lead all scorers and grabbing 10 rebounds. Abdul Kamane (Montreal, Que./Vanier College ) (Montreal) was the only other Gaiter in double figures with 10 points. On their end Bishop's finished the game shooting just 30.2 percent (19-63) and were 7-27 from long range.  They also struggled from the charity stripe shooting 59.3 per cent.
 
Greishe Clerjuste (Montreal) and Stefan Mitrovic (Ste-Foy, Que) each scored 12 points while Yassin Debache (Tunis, Tunisia) and Misi Boye Jenneau (Montreal) added 11 each for UQAM. Mitrovic and Jenneau came off the bench and helped the Citadins reserves outduel their counterparts 32-18.
 
UQAM also controlled the paint, outscoring Bishop's 28-18.
 
The two teams will look to rest and recover quickly as they tip-off in the back end of the double-header on Saturday at 7 p.m. in Montreal.
 
Friday's contest was part of the #BellLetsTalk nation-wide initiative.  It was one of 100 events and the Gaiters and Citadins part of the 53 U SPORTS schools working towards ending the stigma and keeping the conversation going about mental health in the lead up to #BellLetsTalk Day on Wed. Jan. 25.
 
Stay up-to-date with everything Bishop's Gaiters at www.gaiters.ca or on social media using @BishopsGaiters.
 
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Par Serge Cossette:
Malgré une remontée spectaculaire, défaite de 70 à 61 de l'équipe masculine de l'Université Bishop's aux mains de l'Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM).
Un des joueurs clés des Gaiters, Nick Harvey (Saint-Bruno, Que. /Champlain-St. Lambert) explique que l'équipe a manqué de temps…..