MBB | Gray's Triple-Double Leads Voyageurs Past Lakers
The Laurentian Voyageurs men's basketball team travelled down the road to North Bay Friday night to take on their 705 rivals, the Nipissing Lakers. The Voyageurs brought a number of Laurentian fans with them to support the team as part of the SGA's Frost Week activities.
The Lakers have struggled this season, entering the game with a 3-10 record. However, they were not intimidated by the 7th-ranked Voyageurs and kept pace with the Voyageurs in a back-and-forth first quarter. The Lakers grabbed an early 4-3 lead, but Sam Ivey hit back-to-back 3 pointers to give the Voyageurs a 9-4 lead. The Lakers then stormed back to retake the lead 10-9. The lead would change a few more times before the quarter ended with the Voyageurs trailing 15-13.
The Lakers kept up the intensity in the second quarter, extending their lead to as much as 6 points, but the Voyageurs always had an answer and didn't let the game get out of control. The Lakers led 28-25 with 3:26 left in the quarter but Kadre Gray proceeded to make a free throw and sink a three-pointer to give the Voyageurs their first lead in over 9 minutes of game time, 29-28. Nipissing's Girece Kazumba made a jump shot to retake the lead for the Lakers, but then Gray made two free throws with 1:28 left in the half to give the Voyageurs the lead 31-30. The Voyageurs would hold this one-point lead into halftime, a lead they would not relinquish.
The Voyageurs came out flying in the third quarter. Curtis Gordon sunk back-to-back three pointers, extending Laurentian's lead to 37-30. The Voyageurs outscored the Lakers 26-17 in the quarter, and extended their lead to 57-47 by the quarter's end. The Voyageurs defence did not give the Lakers any chance to start a comeback, and the offence countered each Nipissing basket with one of their own.
The Lakers scored the first basket of the fourth quarter, but the Voyageurs countered with three straight three pointers, two from Gray and one from Joseph Hlady, to quell any thought of a Lakers comeback. Leading 66-49, the Voyageurs focused on playing responsible defense and limiting the Lakers' chances. They would outscore the Lakers 19-12 in the fourth quarter en route to a final score of 76-59.
Leading the way for the Voyageurs was their superstar, Kadre Gray. Gray had a triple-double, scoring 27 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists. Veteran guard Sam Ivey had a double-double, scoring 14 points and 12 rebounds. Gaetan Chamand also scored 12 points. Leading scorers for the Lakers were Justin Shaver with 17 points, and Danny Lukusa and Shandon Ashitei, who had 12 points each.
The win was Laurentian's fourth straight over the Lakers. The win also improves the Voyageurs to 10-4 on the season and keeps them tied for fourth in the OUA. The Voyageurs are tied with the 10-3 Lakehead Thunderwolves, who will be their next opponent January 24th. The outcome of this game could have serious implications for determining who secures a bye to the quarterfinals. Tip-off is at 8 pm, and the game will be streamed on oua.tv.
Adam Kalab