Saturday 16 October 2010

Concordia 81, McMaster 71

The Stingers captured their second consecutive tournament, winning the Hawk Challenge, as 6'4" Evens Laroche led all scorers with 21 points including a couple of threes at key points in the game.  Concordia took the lead for good in the third quarter and withstood a couple of Mac runs, the final one being an 8-0 run late after the Marauders had crept to within 3.  6'2" Kyle Desmarais added 18 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists including a steal and breakaway dunk in the final run and 6'3" Decee Krah had a tidy 5-6 shooting effort for 14 points including a big 3 late.

McMaster, which welcomed back 6'3" Victor Raso from an ankle injury but played without 6'8" Scott Brittain used a 9-1 run midway through the first quarter to build a six point lead as 6'4" third-year Nathan Pelech (17 points on 5-7 shooting from downtown) hit back-to-back 3's.  Later a 9-1 run in the second gave the Marauders their largest lead at 30-17.  But Desmarais and Laroche keyed a 12-0 Stinger run to tie the game late in the first half.

Down the stretch, Raso hit a three and 6'2" second-year point guard Jordan Tew followed with a lay-in on the next possession to bring Mac back to within 2 at 69-67 but it was as close as Mac would get as Krah knocked down a clutch three, Desmarais followed with his steal and dunk and then Laroche capped the 8-0 run with a three to allow Concordia to pull away.

Tew had 17 for Mac but it was the Big 3 for the Stingers who made plays when it mattered.  Concordia shot 49% as a team and made 6 of 12 3's, the majority of which during important moments of the game.

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