Jonny Roach – Staff Writer 

The Bishop’s Gaiters’ historic 2025/26 season ended in heartbreak on the national stage, falling in the U SPORTS Championship Final in Calgary, AB—their first appearance in the title game since their championship-winning run in 1998. 

After establishing themselves as one of the top teams in the country all season long, the Gaiters suffered a narrow 81-78 loss at home against Laval University for the RSEQ men’s basketball championship. Despite the harrowing final game in Lennoxville, the sustained prowess of the purple and white all season earned them the ‘at-large’ berth for the U SPORTS Final eight at the University of Calgary. 

Image courtesy of Blair Shier

As the fifth seed, Bishop’s entered the tournament as one of the top unproven teams in the nation. BU opened their Final eight campaign with composure and discipline in the quarterfinal against the Acadia Axemen. Leaning on their defensive identity and efficient scoring, the Gaiters controlled the tempo and executed down the stretch to secure a 98-85 victory and semifinal berth. 

In the national semifinal, BU faced the top-seeded and defending national champion Victoria Vikes for the first time since the Gaiters’ quarterfinal loss to Victoria in last year’s tournament. The Gaiters once again showcased their depth and resilience, with key contributions across the lineup in a back-and-forth contest. Scoreless in the final three minutes with a three-point lead, the Gaiters clung to their defensive identity and allowed just two points, holding on for a nailbiter victory and punching their ticket to the national championship game. The win marked a defining moment for the program, sending Bishop’s to its second national final, and first in nearly three decades.  

In the championship game, the Gaiters went toe-to-toe with one of the greatest dynasties in U SPORTS history, the 17-time national champion Carleton Ravens in a championship showdown for the ages. Bishop’s matched the intensity early, executing on both ends of the floor and keeping the game in the balance through 15 ties and 18 lead changes. Their balanced scoring and defensive pressure once again gave them a chance, but the 35-point performance from Ravens guard A. Dorey-Haven had the verdict come down to a few key possessions and some controversial officiating in the final minutes. Despite their efforts, the Gaiters fell just short, ending their championship pursuit in a hard-fought 78-75 finish. 

While the final result stings, it does little to diminish what this team accomplished. From climbing to the top of the national rankings to dominating statistically on both ends of the floor, the Gaiters built one of the most complete seasons in program history. They finished among the U SPORTS leaders in scoring, efficiency, and defensive metrics, outscoring opponents by over 15 points per game and establishing themselves as one of the most balanced teams in Canada. Their playoff run only reinforced that identity. 

The loss in the final will be remembered, but so will everything that led to it. This was the team that brought Bishop’s back to the top of U SPORTS basketball. The team that turned Mitchell Gymnasium into one of the toughest environments to play in the country. The team that proved that the Gaiters belong on the national stage, and turned a gym nearly 4,000 km from Lennoxville into a sea of purple. With eight seniors set to graduate, this group leaves behind more than just wins and records—they leave a legacy of what Bishop’s basketball can be at its best. One game short of a championship as the smallest university competing in men’s 

basketball in the country.