MBB | Voyageur Come Up Short Against Top Ranked GeeGees in Quarter-Final
After an impressive away win on Wednesday in Windsor, the Laurentian Voyageurs men's basketball team continued their quest for the Wilson Cup with a quarterfinal matchup against the top-ranked Ottawa Gee-Gees.
Ottawa had already defeated Laurentian twice in the regular season, winning both matchups, but with the Voyageurs riding a four-game winning streak, they seemed poised to pull off an unlikely upset against one of the country's best teams.
Laurentian had a tough start, as Ottawa came out firing, opening the game on a 13-0 run. The Voyageurs struggled to keep pace, managing just 37.5% shooting, while costly turnovers allowed Ottawa to capitalize in transition. The Gee-Gees' red-hot shooting helped them build a commanding 29-14 lead after the first quarter.
The Voyageurs tightened up their defense in the second quarter, limiting Ottawa to 37.5% shooting after their explosive start. However, Laurentian couldn't capitalize offensively, shooting just 30% from the field and going 0-for-8 from three. Ismael Konate and Daniel Muila-Mwaka battled hard on the boards, but Ottawa continued to force turnovers and get to the free-throw line. Despite a slightly improved showing, Laurentian went into halftime trailing 45-28, still searching for an offensive rhythm.
With just one half of basketball left to save their season, the Voyageurs needed to dig deep and find a spark. However, their offensive struggles persisted in the third quarter, as they shot just 27.3% overall and 16.7% from beyond the arc. Ottawa, meanwhile, couldn't maintain the same pace as their explosive first quarter but remained in control, keeping Laurentian at bay for the majority of the period. The Voyageurs continued to battle on the glass, but costly turnovers and missed opportunities allowed Ottawa to extend their lead. The quarter ended with Laurentian trailing 62-39, leaving them with a mountain to climb in the final frame.
The Voyageurs fought until the final buzzer but couldn't overcome their offensive woes. They shot just 26.7% in the fourth quarter while Ottawa maintained control with efficient shooting and ball movement. Despite battling valiantly, Laurentian ultimately fell 81-50, bringing their playoff run to an end.
Top performers for the Voyageurs included Daniel Muila-Mwaka, who recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and senior Kamil Dia-Hantchi, who, in his final game for Laurentian, played 21 minutes off the bench and led the team with 14 points along with four rebounds.
Laurentian end the season at the quarter final stage with an overall record of 11-11 in the regular season and a 1-1 mark in the postseason. The team will now look to build on this campaign as they set their sights on the 2025-26 season and a potential run at the OUA Championship.
- Andrew Lemieux