MBB - Voyageurs defeated by Lakehead in first game of 2024
The men's basketball team traveled to Thunder Bay to play the Lakehead Thunderwolves on Friday night. The Voyageurs came up short 94-85 against the Thunderwolves.
In the first quarter, the Voyageurs were scoreless until two minutes in, when Keenan Morain scored two free throws. Later on, Cedric Mbiaba and Caillou Lacroix scored a layup each, and Morain added another two points. After the halfway point, Kamil Dia Hantchi and Tyler Brown scored their first layup of the game, followed by a deep 3-point shot from Hantchi. In the last minute, Mbiaba scored another layup, but the Voyageurs were trailing the Thunderwolves 28-19.
The Voyageurs started off strong in the second quarter, with Daniel Muila scoring a layup only nine seconds into the quarter. One minute later, Lacroix made a 3-point shot and Muila made another layup. The Voyageurs were then scoreless for four minutes, until Hantchi scored 2 points, followed by a free throw from Pierre Mukandila and Shamar Forbes. Before heading into halftime, Morain scored another layup and Forbes scored a 3-pointer. The Thunderwolves had a 50-35 lead going into the half.
Coming back from the half, Lacroix and Forbes scored 2 points each, while Mukandila and Hantchi scored a layup each. To add more points, Lacroix, Mbiaba, Morain, and Forbes scored a combination of 9 points, and Mukandila added 3 points himself. The Voyageurs needed 18 points to catch up to the Thunderwolves.
Morain started the last quarter by scoring a layup and Lacroix scored another 3-point shot. Mbiaba added two points to the scoresheet and Hantchi added 6, from two 3-point shots. At the fourth-minute mark, two free throws were made by Lacroix and Hantchi scored another 3-pointer. At this point, the Vees only needed 9 points to equalize the game. In the last two minutes, Hantchi, Lacroix, Muila and Mukandila scored a combined 8 points, which concluded the scoring for the Voyageurs. They were defeated 94-85.
The standout performers were Kamil Dia Hantchi with 22 points and 7 rebounds, Caillou Lacroix with 17 points, Pierre Mukandila, and Keenan Morain with 10 points and 6 rebounds each.
The Voyageurs are back in action on Friday, January 12th, as they take on the uOttawa Gee-Gees on the road, followed by the Carleton Ravens on Saturday. Both tip-offs are scheduled for 8pm.
-Madison Boileau