CIS Hoops.ca

Laval 81, Concordia 63 All-Canadian J.P. Morin had 30 points, 10 rebounds and 6 blocks in another dominating performance leading le Rouge et Or back to the Nationals for the first time in 4 seasons. Laval was in control for much of the game, leading by 14 at the half, building their lead to 23 midway through the third quarter and then surviving a late third quarter run that got the Stingers back to within 7 early in the fourth quarter but then Laval took over to win easily. "Morin does everything well", praised Stingers Coach John Dore, "He did everything tonight inside, outside, blocking shots. I'm not sure who will end up as CIS Player-of-the-Year but Morin has to be right there. Laval has great chemistry right now and the better team won tonight." 6'3" J.F. Beaulieu-Mahieux had 15 of his 17 points after halftime including a pair of big 3's that helped put the game out of reach while 6'4" Jerome Turcotte had a tidy 7 point/8 rebound/5 assist effort that included a couple of steals leading to break away layups for Beaulieu-Mahieux and 5'9" point guard Xavier Baribeau (13 points, 6 rebounds). The Stingers got back in the game by deploying a three-quarter court press and falling back into a zone, which got the momentum back in their favour; after a couple of 3's and several trips to the line, the Stingers made a game of it early in the fourth quarter. But Morin and Beaulieu-Mahieux reasserted themselves and Laval took over. Laval did a tremendous job defensively on 6'1" Damian Buckley, double teaming the star point guard at every opportunity and taking away Concordia's ball screen game and, except for some early 3's by 5'9" Levi Vann and a 15 point, 7 rebound performance from 6'3" Andre Johnny, Concordia could not find consistent offense anywhere else. Laval becomes the fifth team to qualify for the CIS Nationals, joining UBC, Alberta, Western and Carleton with 3 more spots to be decided by late Sunday night.