SHERBROOKE, Que. – David Belanger (Sherbrooke, Que./Champlain-St. Lambert) put up a season high 24 points to lead the Bishop's Gaiters over the UQAM Citadins by a score of 84-77 in Mitchell Gym on Sunday Afternoon.
Along with his 24 points Belanger led the team with 12 rebounds. The fifth year forward played 30 minutes in which he was 9-21 from the floor and 6-7 from the free throw line.
Abdul Kamane (Montreal, Que./Vanier College), the conference's top scorer had 20 points and nine rebounds. He was 12-13 from the charity stripe.
Junior, Yassin Naji (Lunel, France/Lycée Pothier Orleans) put up 13 points, had four rebounds and three blocks.
UQAM was led off the bench by Christopher Adu with 18 points and three rebounds while Misi boye Jeanneau had 11 points and five rebounds.
Bishop's pulled away from UQAM at the end of the first quarter to take the 27-18 lead. Belanger scored nine of his 24 points in the first quarter. The Citadins came out in the second quarter firing and cut the Gaiters lead to two with just under two minutes to play. But Bishop's did not let them back in and held on to a 35-45 lead at the half. The Gaiters barely kept their lead through the third quarter, leading by just four with 10 minutes to play in the game. UQAM took the lead with seven minutes to play on a jumper by Ahmed Salia Toure, but Bishop's was not going away. Naji hit a huge three pointer to put the Gaiters up by six with under four minutes to play. This forced the Citadins to call timeout, out of which they answered with a three pointer of their own. Belanger put the Gaiters up by five with under a minute to play and Bishop's held of the Citadins advances to take the contest 84-77.
"We did a better job on our defensive transition and we rebounded the ball better for most of the game," said head coach Rod Gilpin. "We still had some lapses but we did a better job on our glass for the most part."
Bishop's takes the 2-1 lead in the series with UQAM. They will face off again on Feb. 8 in Montreal.
The Gaiters are next in action against the Concordia Stingers (3-3) on Jan. 18th in Montreal and on Jan. 20th at home in Lennoxville.
Stay up-to-date with everything Bishop's Gaiters at www.gaiters.ca or on social media using @BishopsGaiters and #GaiterNation.
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