LENNOXVILLE, Que. – A double-double by Ibrahima Sylla led the UQAM Citadins to an 85-69 win over the Bishop's Gaiters in Quebec university men's basketball league action at the Mitchell Gym, Saturday. The senior forward had game highs with 26 points and 14 rebounds, including 10 on the defensive glass, as he led UQAM (9-8, 4-5 RSEQ) to a sweep of their home-and-home series with the Gaiters (7-10, 3-7 RSEQ).
 
The Gaiters started strongly, taking a 16-9 lead after the first quarter, and they held a slim 26-24 halftime edge. However, the Citadins took control of the contest with a 14-1 run in the third quarter – led by eight points from Sylla – to take a 43-33 lead, and used another 8-0 run later in the quarter to run their lead to 54-40 with 1:33 left in the period.
 
Bishop's was led by Abdul Kamane (Montreal, Que./Vanier College), who had 19 points on 5-for-13 shooting. He went 9-for-10 from the free-throw line, and also led the Gaiters with five assists. Nervens Demosthene (Terrebonne, Que./Cegep de Montmorency) added a double-double, with 18 points and 13 rebounds. He had a team-high 10 defensive rebounds.
 
For UQAM, Sylla was assisted by a 20-point night from Alix Lochard, who went 9-for-17 from the field. Christopher Adu came off the bench to score 15 points, including three 3-pointers.
 
UQAM shot 42.9 per cent from the field, while holding the Gaiters to 37.7 per cent. The Citadins went 12-for-32 from three-point range, while Bishop's was only 1-for-24 from long range.
 
With the win, UQAM moves into a virtual three-way tie for second place in the conference with McGill and Laval, who both have 3-4 league records. Bishop's is 1.5 games behind those three teams, with six games left to play.
 
The Gaiters are back in action on Thursday, when they visit McGill. Tip off at the Love Competition Hall in Montreal is set for 8 p.m. Their next home game is Saturday, Jan. 26, which will be Bell Let's Talk night at the Mitchell Gym.
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