MBB | Voyageurs Survive Late Scare Against Lions

The Voyageurs returned to their winning ways on Saturday night when they earned a hard-fought win against the York Lions by a score of 84-76. 

The Voyageurs started strong, going on an 8-2 run to start the quarter. The Voyageurs would maintain this six point lead until the quarter's end when the score line read 17-11. However, the second quarter was more close encounter. Both teams went down to the wire, a gritty effort from both. The Vees stretched their lead to 12 points at one time when just 1:33 were left in the first half through a made three point bucket from Haroun Mohammed. The first half came to a close and the Voyageurs led 37-31. Mohammed led the Voyageurs with 11 points and was followed closely by Kadre Gray with nine points while DeAndrae Pierre led the Lions with eight points and was followed closely by Prince Kamunga with seven points. Finally, the Voyageurs shot 42.9% from the field, whereas the Lions shot 35.5% from the field. 

In the third quarter Sam Ivey took charge. He scored 11 of his 22 points and went 3-for-3 from beyond the arc in the quarter to help the Voyageurs take a modest 11 point lead at the quarter's end since the scoreboard read 64-53. Due to their efforts in the third quarter, the Voyageur lead eventually stretched to 17 points but the Lions came roaring back and reduced the just eight points with 52 seconds left in the game through a clutch three point bucket from Kamunga. Following this play, the Lions were forced to foul twice in order to regain possession of the ball but missed a three-point attempt to further reduce the Voyageur lead. The Lions fouled again and to add more drama to this game, the Voyageurs missed their free throw attempt but managed to recover it just in the nick of time to erase some valuable seconds off the clock. The Lions fouled and yet again, the Vees missed another free throw attempt. Eventually, the ball would find itself in the hands Pierre with seven seconds left in the game and his attempted three-point shot would fall short and the Voyageurs would emerge victorious. 

The Voyageurs shot 51.6% from the field while the Lions shot 42.2% from the field. Ivey led the Voyageur charge with 22 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists and was followed by Haroun Mohammed with 16 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Conversely, the Lions were led by Kamunga with 26 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists and was followed by Pierre with 13 points, 2 rebounds and 5 assists. 

The Voyageurs will now return home and host the Algoma Thunderbirds on Friday, January 31 to kick off the final home weekend of the regular season. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 pm at Ben Avery Gymnasium. 

Wali Khan