Jonny Roach – Staff Writer 

For the first time since mid-November, the Bishop’s men’s basketball team sits atop the latest USports men’s basketball ranking. Rising victorious in six of the last seven, it’s undeniable that Canadian University basketball runs through Lennoxville, QC.

Image courtesy of Annie White

On Jan. 29, the Gaiters hosted the Concordia Stingers for the second of three straight home games. After a slow start to the quarter, Bishop’s rallied back to lead 15-13 after the first ten minutes. The second frame saw much of the same, the all-around scoring from Bishop’s 20-point effort succumbed to a 35-29 lead at halftime. The contest resumed in quarter three with business as usual, while Concordia fell under the pressure of a growing lead in an energetic swamp to produce a poor effort offensively. The purple and white had their third straight 20-point quarter scoring outburst to close out the Stingers 75-58. 

The Gaiters were dominant the whole way in this one, never relinquishing their first 

quarter lead for the remainder of the game. Forward Reggie Jean Seraphin led the way with a 17-point and 10-rebound double-double and four blocks, while Charles Robert posted ten points and eight rebounds of his own, and Yve Nsanzinshuti provided ten points off the bench. The third straight home affair was a matchup with the McGill Redbirds on Feb. 5, in another packed Mitchell Gymnasium. Forward Etienne Gagnon began the onslaught with eight points in the opening stanza, leading to a 21-17 lead after one. The Bishop’s brand of basketball was on full display in quarter two as they outscored the Redbirds 24-6, showing everyone high-level play on both ends of the floor. Entering the third quarter with a 45-23 lead, the depth 

of this team continued to extend the lead with ten of Bishop’s 18 points coming from off the 

bench. Despite the growing lead, the guys posted another 24-point quarter to send McGill home defeated 87-53. 

Etienne Gagnon’s all around play (17 points, 12 rebounds, one assist, two steals, and one block) earned him a coveted quintuple-single in the box score, supported by Zach John’s 13 points off the bench, and Charles Robert, Ulrich Larochel and David Navarro’s nine points apiece to win big. 

The Gaiters are playing elite basketball on both ends of the court, and the numbers back that up significantly. This unit can score the basketball in so many ways; among the best in the league in three-point percentage (33.4%, 29 attempts/game), top five in shooting percentage (45.6%), top five in points per game (86.0), number two in offensive efficiency (1.082 points per off. possession) and have outscored opponents in all competitions this year by an average of 15.1 points per game. On the defensive end, the Gaiters are no joke either; top three in rebounding (43.9 per game), top five in fewest points allowed per game (69.8), top three in opponent shooting percentage (38%) and number three in net efficiency (+0.195 per total possession).

As we round out the end of the regular season, be sure to clear your schedule for potential playoff home games in March, and tune in Saturday, Feb. 21, for what will likely be a battle against the Laval Rouge et Or for homecourt advantage in the RSEQ playoffs.