MBB | Voyageurs Advance to OUA Quarterfinals After Win in Windsor
The Laurentian Voyageurs men's basketball team began their OUA Playoff run with a first-round matchup in Windsor, taking on the Lancers on Wednesday night.
The Voyageurs entered their matchup with Windsor as the number 9 seed in the OUA bracket, with their opponents finishing just one spot ahead in eighth. Laurentian also came into the game riding high on momentum, carrying a three-game winning streak that included victories over the Queen's Gaels and Lakehead Thunderwolves—ranked 8th and 10th in the nation, respectively—during that span.
Laurentian got off to a sluggish start, struggling to find their offensive rhythm while Windsor capitalized on early opportunities. The Voyageurs shot just 23.5% from the field, with no one in the lineup managing to get into a shooting groove in the first quarter. Windsor's defense forced several turnovers, leading to transition baskets and allowing the Lancers to take a 19-11 lead after one.
The Voyageurs found their footing in the second quarter, improving their shooting efficiency to 34.8% while limiting Windsor to 33.3%. Ismael Konate stepped up in a big way, scoring 12 points in the second quarter alone, knocking down key shots from beyond the arc. Shawn Barthelemy controlled the glass, grabbing four of his nine rebounds in the quarter. It was an excellent bounce-back frame for Laurentian, cutting Windsor's lead to just four heading into halftime.
Laurentian carried their momentum into the third quarter, outscoring Windsor 19-12. They continued to improve their three-point shooting, hitting 25%, while Windsor's offense sputtered, shooting just 31.3% from the field. Barthelemy and Konate continued to lead the charge on offense, combining for 11 points in the third, while Laurentian's defense held Windsor's key scorers in check, forcing tough shots. A strong rebounding effort helped the Voyageurs take their first lead of the game, entering the final quarter up by three.
The fourth quarter saw Laurentian put the game to bed in impressive fashion, shooting 71.4% from the field and 83.3% from three. Their defense remained suffocating, holding Windsor to just 22.2% shooting. Nginyu Ngala delivered in the clutch, scoring 14 of his 21 points in the final quarter. The Voyageurs outscored Windsor 25-12 in the frame, sealing a convincing 75-59 victory. Their strong second-half performance, particularly on defense—limiting Windsor to just 24 second-half points—proved to be the difference in the game.
With the win, Laurentian moves on to the quarterfinals for a matchup with the top-ranked Ottawa Gee-Gees on Saturday at 8 PM in the nation's capital. The game will be available to watch for free on OUA.tv.
- Andrew Lemieux