MBB - Voyageurs suffer second tough loss of the weekend to Marauders

The men's basketball team took another tough loss against the Marauders on Saturday night. Although the game was constantly switching ends, the Voyageurs suffered an 81-71 loss.

The first quarter started with the Marauders scoring a 3-point shot in the first fifteen seconds. Voyageurs players Ahmad Cidi-Jalloh, Caillou Lacroix, and Pierre Mukandila quickly answered with a jump shot each. With a pass from Lacroix, Daniel Muila drove to the net and got fouled, leading to two made free throws, giving the Voyageurs the lead by two points. Kamil Dia Hantchi scored two layups within a minute and Lacroix scored a 3-pointer. In the last two minutes, Cedric Mbiaba, Lacroix, and Ismael Konate scored a combination of 6 points, concluding the quarter with a lead of 4 points.

In the second quarter, Muila scored a combination of 3 points and Cidi-Jalloh scored a layup. Hantchi scored his first 3-pointer of the game and Mukandila added two more points to the board. With four minutes to go until halftime, Muila, Lacroix, and Hantchi scored a combination of 8 points, still having the lead on their side.

Coming back from halftime, Hantchi scored another 3-point shot, Lacroix made a layup and Muila scored 2 more points. The Marauders would answer to every basket, only needing 6 points to catch up to the Voyageurs. Konate made two free throws and a layup, Cidi-Jalloh scored a layup and Lacroix made a single free throw. The Voyageurs were ahead 55-49 going into the last quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the Marauders became more aggressive and scored many points in a short amount of time. Muila began the quarter with two layups, which were the last points scored for three minutes. At the sixth-minute mark, Lacroix and Mukandila scored 2 points each, keeping the lead, with only two points this time. McMaster called a timeout at this point, which was unfortunately effective for the Marauders, as the Voyageurs scored only 6 points within two minutes. Lacroix made two free throws which were the last points scored by Laurentian. The Voyageurs dropped the game 81-71 to the Marauders.

The standout performers were Daniel Muila with 18 points and 7 rebounds, Caillou Lacroix also with 18 points, and Kamil Dia Hantchi with 12 points.

The Voyageurs will be back in action on the road next weekend, as they take on the University of Toronto Varsity Blues on Friday, and the TMU Bold on Saturday. Tip-offs are scheduled for 8 pm, following the women's games.

-Madison Boileau