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Posted: Oct 25, 2024

MBB | Voyageurs Fall Late Against Varsity Blues

Shawn Barthelemy dribbling up the court - Mark Wilson
Shawn Barthelemy dribbling up the court - Mark Wilson
Box Score
Game Leaders
Toronto
Pts: Iñaki Alvarez - 25
Reb: Anthony Daudu - 8
Ast: 2 Players (#3, #22) - 3
Laurentian
Pts: Pierre Mukandila - 24
Reb: Daniel Muila-Mwaka - 16
Ast: Nginyu Ngala - 6
Team Stats
Full stats

The Laurentian Voyageurs Men's Basketball team got their season underway at home hosting the University of Toronto Varsity Blues to the Ben Avery Gym Friday night. 

 

After finishing the preseason on a high with a win against Macelester College in Montreal last weekend all eyes turned to that start of the OUA regular season and a chance for Laurentian to get their first official win of the season on the board. 

 

As they got underway both teams' could tell this would be a tightly contested matchup with buckets falling for both sides at key moments in the first. For Laurentian their strong three point shooting of 75% in the first quarter helped them take an early 21-18 lead after one.

 

The second saw the defense take over for the Voyageurs as they out-rebounded Toronto 14-6 in the quarter and limited the Varsity Blues to 30% shooting in the second frame. The defense was outstanding but the offense was also just as good with Pierre Mukandila leading the way with 9 points in the quarter going a perfect 3-3 from the field including 2 three point makes to give LU a 42-32 lead at half.

 

The third quarter was a complete turn of fortunes for the Voyageurs as the strong defense they showed in the first half seemed to disappear in the second giving up 6 offensive rebounds to the Varsity Blues in the third quarter. That combined with an offense that struggled to find its touch in the second half meant Toronto outscored Laurentian 29-12 in the third to take the lead 61-54 going into the final ten minutes. 

 

The fourth quarter ended up being more of the same as the offense ended up being the downfall of the Voyageurs on the day. Coming up with just 14 points in the fourth quarter on 6-20 shooting Toronto's lead extended late and the Varsity Blues would go on to win 79-68.

 

LU will have another chance to pick up their first win of the season Saturday night at the Ben Avery gym as they finish the weekend by welcoming the TMU Bold to town with tip-off scheduled for 8pm in Sudbury.

 

- Andrew Lemieux