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............... HEADLINES Blackwood scores 20 points in Gaiters’ 81-78 loss to McGill January 29, 2010 LENNOXVILLE –Onnex Blackwood’s (Scarborough, Ont.) third straight 20-point game went for naught as the Gaiters fell 81-78 to the McGill Redmen in Quebec University Basketball League men’s action tonight at the Mitchell Gym. The rookie guard shot 9-for-13 from the field, and finished with a team-high 20 points, but it was not enough to offset McGill’s strong outside shooting. With the win, the Redmen improve to 5-5 in league play (9-14 overall, 9-13 CIS), while the Gaiters fall to 4-5 in the league (9-12 overall, 7-12 CIS). Joining Blackwood in double figures for the Gaiters were fifth-year forwards Damon Thomas-Anderson (Verdun, Que.) and Hermon Tesfaghebriel (Coquitlam, B.C.), who each scored 13 points. Thomas-Anderson also grabbed a game-high seven rebounds. Fourth-year guard Pawel Herra came off the bench to score a game-high 22 points for McGill, while veteran guard Matthew Thornhill added 18 points and Michael White scored 15. The Redmen hit eight three-pointers, five in the second half, and shot 42% (8-for-19) from beyond the three-point arc. The Gaiters were 7-for-23 from three-point range (30%), but shot 46% from the field overall. The Gaiters opened strongly; pulling out to a 15-6 lead with 2:41 left in the first quarter, and led 19-13 at the end of the period. The Redmen chipped away early in the second, before five points by Herra gave the Redmen their first lead of the night at 27-26, capping a 10-2 McGill run. The Gaiters quickly regained the lead, and led 35-33 at halftime. After McGill tied the game at 44-44 with 5:38 left in the third quarter, the lead changed hands four times before a Blackwood layup gave the Gaiters a 54-53 lead with ten minutes to play. The Redmen opened the fourth quarter on an 8-0 run, with David Clark’s three-pointer giving them a 63-56 lead. The Gaiters responded with seven straight points to tie the game at 63-63 with 5:27 left, but were unable to retake the lead. After McGill staked out a 77-71 bulge with a minute left, a pair of three-pointers by rookie guard Jamil Abiad (Ottawa, Ont.) pulled the Gaiters to within one point at 79-78 with four seconds left. However, Thornhill made a pair of free throws and the Gaiters were unable to get a quality shot off in their last possession. The loss ends the Gaiters’ three-game winning streak, and is the first time they have allowed 80 points in ten games, dating back to a 102-88 loss at McGill on November 20, 2009. The Gaiters are back in action tomorrow night as they visit the Laval Rouge et Or (12-14, 10-11 CIS, 6-3 QUBL) at the PEPS in Quebec City. McGill also returns to action tomorrow night, as they host the Concordia Stingers (8-16, 8-12 CIS, 2-8 QUBL). Both games tip off at 8 p.m. |
