Gee-Gees down Laurentian, Nipissing in weekend action
Throughout the weekend of Nov. 25–26 the nationally fourth-ranked University of Ottawa men’s basketball team faced off against two of their north division rivals in the Laurentian Voyageurs and the Nipissing Lakers.
Laurentian University
The Friday match-up was tight early on, but Jean-Emmanuel Pierre-Charles broke that stalemate as he worked well in the low post, giving his team an 10–8 lead with three minutes left.
Very good defense was on display in the first quarter, and the score stood at 12–12 at the end of the frame.
Both teams looked to be evenly matched in the second. The lead changed hands a number of times, with neither team managing to pull away.
In the third quarter, the Gees finally took control of the game with Pierre-Charles showing off his midrange shooting and stretching the lead to seven.
The Gees showed some good offensive play to increase their lead to 52–36. Pierre-Charles drained one inside to increase the Gees’ lead to 20, and at the end of the quarter the scoreboard showed a 59–37 lead for the U of O.
Following their 31-point offensive explosion in the third quarter, the Gee-Gees brought in some of their reserves to play in the fourth quarter. The Voyageurs outscored the Gees in the frame by seven points, but that wasn’t nearly enough.
The U of O took their second game of the year, and their first of the weekend, easily by a score of 74–59.
Veteran Pierre-Charles turned in a great performance for the Gees on Friday, recording a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. He also showed off his skill in the low-post as well as his mid-range shooting.
Overall, the Gees took it to the Voyageurs underneath the hoop, dominating the glass with nine rebounds. The Gees played solid defensively limiting their opponents to 38 per cent shooting from the floor.
Nipissing University
The following day, the Gees faced the Nipissing Lakers for their second game in as many nights.
Just like in the Gee’s first match of the weekend, the game started with some back-and-forth play. The lead changed hands a few times early on before the Gees started getting some momentum. Fifth-year guard Caleb Agada lead the charge, putting up 10 points for the Gees, allowing them to take a 23–18 lead at the end of the first.
The second quarter started much like the first one, with both teams exchanging baskets. Once again, the U of O took control halfway through the quarter, and lead the game 47–35 entering halftime.
The third quarter started off slowly, but halfway through the frame the Gees began to create more distance between themselves and the Lakers, finishing the quarter with a 65–46 lead.
Nipissing would push back a little bit in the fourth, but it was too little to late. The game ended 79–63 in favour of the Gees.
Agada had a monster game for the U of O, draining 23 points and adding ten rebounds.
Agada and Pierre-Charles continue to drive the offence for this team each putting up a double-double over the weekend.
Now that they have three wins in a row, the U of O is in serious contention for the top spot in the northern division of Ontario University Athletics.
The Gees’ next game is their home opener on Dec. 2 at 8 p.m. in Montpetit Hall. You can buy tickets here.
