MBB | Voyageurs Secure Win in Dying Seconds
Friday night saw the Laurentian men's basketball team pick up a much-needed win over the Nipissing Lakers at the Ben Avery gym by a score of 82-81, snapping a seven game losing streak for the Voyageurs.
As the teams got underway, the early game indication pointed towards a heavy, tightly contested game between the two northern Ontario teams. Both Laurentian and Nipissing found nearly zero difficulties scoring in the first quarter as the two teams traded baskets all through the first quarter with Nipissing ending up on top, 27-22. The Voyageurs' first quarter downfall could be pointed towards their struggles shooting the three, going just 1-8 in the quarter from deep.
With lots of time to play however, the Voyageurs knew there was no need to panic and as long as they did not let the Lakers pull away, they would have an opportunity to pick up their first win of 2023. They were able to clean up their defensive act in the second, limiting the Lakers to just 16 points and not allowing a single three-point make for their opposition. The opportunity to crawl back into the game before half time was wasted as the Voyageurs would end up shooting just 26% from the field in the second and would be down 43-35 at half.
The Voyageurs came back out in the second half and one name immediately stood out from the rest. Caillou Lacroix, who came into the game fifth in OUA scoring, took over the game. In the third, he picked up 12 points on 4-7 shooting, including a pair of threes, and led the charge as Laurentian cut the deficit to just six going into the fourth.
The final ten minutes was some of the most exciting ten minutes of basketball the Ben Avery has seen this season. Laurentian had tied the game up by the seven minute mark and, with two minutes left, the score read 79-78 Lakers. After a Nipising basket and 3/4 made free throws by Laurentian, it was now 81-81 with 30 seconds left. The Voyageurs needed a stop and got one. With the shot clock winding down, numerous players converged a loose ball on and the ensuing jump ball call put the ball back in Voyageurs hands with 10 seconds remaining. Off the inbound, there was only one player the ball could go to as Lacroix bullied his way to the paint, drawing a foul and 2 free throws along with it. Three seconds remained and, after hitting the first free throw, Lacroix missed the second and the ball was picked up by Gaetan Chamand, who ran out the clock as the Voyageurs would take it 82-81.
The game's top performer was, without a doubt, Lacroix, who put up a season high 37 points. The Voyageurs will look to build off this massive win as they travel to North Bay tomorrow night in the second game of the home-and-home against the Lakers.
Andrew Lemieux