The Bishop’s Gaiters basketball team continued their rise up the QUBL standings with a convincing 74-61 victory over the Concordia Stingers this past Friday. Guard Onnex Blackwood continued his stellar play against the Stingers, producing a double-double with 24 points and 11 rebounds, while Damon Thomas Anderson contributed 12 points off the bench. The Gaiters jumped out to an early 11-4 lead, with Blackwood connecting on his first three jump shots. Carrying a 19-17 lead into the second quarter, the teams traded scores before the Gaiters closed the half with a 6-0 run, ending the half with a block from Ryan Steele. While the game was riddled with fouls and hard physical play, the Gaiters won the battle at the free throw line, as Concordia only managed a measly 38.7% at the line.
The second half was streaky for both teams, as the Gaiters opened up the third quarter with an 8-2 run, led by Herman Tesfaghebriel’s jump shots. The Stingers fired back though, holding the Gaiters scoreless for nearly four minutes while they put together a 14-0 run of their own, to take a 46-44 lead. Bench play was crucial for Bishop’s though, as Captain Damon Thomas-Anderson scored five straight points before Jeremy Leonard-Smith buried a three point buzzer beater to the end the quarter. Entering the final frame up 54-48, the Gaiters never looked back, carrying an 11-4 run capped by a triple by Tim McAleenan.
Towards the end of the game, two Stingers starters had fouled out, and Bishop’s was cruising to a third straight victory in QUBL play. Four Gaiters finished in double figures for the game, and BU dominated the bench, scoring 24-12. The effort has the Gaiters looking more poised than ever for the playoffs.
The Gaiters will be looking for their fourth straight QUBL win this Friday, when they host the McGill Redmen at Mitchell Gym at 8 PM.
