HALIFAX (U SPORTS) – A 27-point fourth quarter helped the Dalhousie Tigers top the McGill Redmen 69-63 in the bronze medal game of the 2017 ArcelorMittal Dofasco U SPORTS Final 8.
Trailing by eight entering the final 10 minutes, the Tigers went on a 17-8 run, taking the lead for good with just under three minutes left to play. Dalhousie utilized an aggressive full-court press defence to force seven Redmen turnovers in the fourth quarter.
Forward Sven Stammberger led the way on the offensive end with eight points in the quarter and 20 overall. Guard Jenning Leung was McGill’s leading scorer with 17 points.
The third-place finish was the best result in men’s basketball history for Dalhousie, who finished fourth at last year’s championship.
“I’ve told them all along that we might not have the best accumulation of basketball players, but we’ve got the best team in my mind,” Tigers head coach Rick Plato said post-game. “They care for one another and I just wanted it for them...These guys are going away in their last university game as winners and they’re going to remember it for the rest of their life.”
Despite turning the ball over six times in the first quarter, the Redmen did an effective job on the defensive end, holding the Tigers to just three field goals and 23.1 per cent shooting from the field. Offensively, McGill shot 50 per cent from the perimeter and led 17-13.
The Redmen would take compete control in the opening six minutes of the second quarter, going on a 13-2 run. They won the battle on the glass as well, getting 10 combined boards from wing Michael Peterkin and forward Francois Bourque – who led McGill with eight points at the half.
Dalhousie would go on a 14-6 run to start the third – taking their first lead since early in the first quarter. Stammberger was the catalyst once more, with six points, including a clutch three-pointer.
McGill would battle back with an eight-point swing at the end of the quarter though, and led 50-42 after three. Leung was critical, with five points down the stretch, including a massive trey.
Dalhousie utilized their signature hustle defence to frustrate the Redmen in the final quarter and steal the six-point victory, winning the game at the line towards the end.
“Yeah, I’m disappointed with today’s outcome, but Dalhousie was a very good opponent today, they did a lot of things we couldn’t handle today,” McGill head coach David DeAveiro said postgame.
“Their press changed the whole style of the game and we didn’t have an answer for it. It felt like they had seven guys on the court at times.”
STAT LEADERS
DAL: 13-12-17-27: 69
MCG: 17-15-18-13: 63
Dalhousie
Points: Sven Stammberger (20), Jordan Aquino-Serjue (10)
Rebounds: Jarre Reid (5)
Assists: Ritchie Kanza Mata (5)
Player of the game: Sven Stammberger
McGill
Points: Jenning Leung (17), Francois Bourque (14)
Rebounds: Michael Peterkin (10)
Assists: Dele Ogundokun (3) Francois Bourque (3)
Player of the game: Jenning Leung
SCHEDULE & RESULTS (All times AT)
Thursday, March 9
12:00 p.m. Quarter-final 1: No.2 Carleton 85 vs. No.7 Calgary 69 (TV1 webcast)
2 p.m. Quarter-final 2: No.3 McGill 63 vs. No.6 Manitoba 53 (TV1 webcast)
6 p.m. Quarter-final 3: No.1 Ryerson 79 vs. No.8 Saint Mary’s 70 (TV1 webcast)
8 p.m. Quarter-final 4: No.4 Alberta 65 vs. No.5 Dalhousie 67 (TV1 webcast)
Friday, March 10
6 p.m. Consolation 1: Calgary 92 vs. Manitoba 84 (TV1 webcast)
8 p.m. Consolation 2: Saint Mary’s 98 vs. Alberta 93 (OT) (TV1 webcast)
Saturday, March 11
1 p.m. Semifinal 1: Carleton 74 vs. McGill 58 (Sportsnet 360/SN Now)
3:30 p.m. Semifinal 2: Ryerson 59 vs. Dalhousie 58 (Sportsnet 360/SN Now)
8 p.m. 5th-place game: Calgary 96 vs. Saint Mary’s 65 (TV1 webcast)
Sunday, March 12
11:30 a.m. Bronze McGill 63 vs. Dalhousie 69 (TV1 webcast)
2:00 p.m. Final Ryerson vs. Carleton (Sportsnet 360/SN Now)