Continuing a developing pattern of overcoming large, early deficits to come back strong to win games, especially on the road, Concordia stayed undefeated against CIS teams (5-0) with a pair of victories this weekend at the Laurentian tournament. On Friday afternoon, the Stingers spotted Laurier Golden Hawks a first-half double digit lead including giving up 27 first-quarter points but then tightened up defensively in the second half to secure a 93-89 win made even closer by a buzzer three by the Hawks. The Stingers Big 4 of 6'2" Decee Krah (23 points), 6'2" Kyle Desmarais (23 points), 6'6" James Clark (20 points) and 6'3" Evens Laroche (15 points) scored 81 of the 93 points and held Laurier's 6'5" Kale Harrison to 0-6 from downtown. Desmarais continues to impress, shaking off a mediocre start to Friday's game to deliver down the stretch. Rapidly emerging 6'6" forward Patrick Donnelly engineered another double double with 16 points and 10 rebounds to lead Laurier while 6'5" Max Allin had 18 (on 6-17 shooting) and 8 boards. Allin started at the point, giving Coach Peter Campbell the luxury of bringing 5'10" Travis Berry off the bench and thus far the move has been positive as Berry went 4-7 from downtown for 12 points in 27 minutes. In all the Hawks shot 11-34 from downtown but still lost their second straight to the Stingers over the past two weekends.
This afternoon, the Stingers clinched the tournament championship with a 66-54 win over host Laurentian with the keys being a complete shutdown of the Vees vaunted three-point shooting barrage and great play off the Stingers bench after starters were plagued with early foul trouble. Laurentian shot only 1-12 from downtown as Concordia took away the three ball from a team that usually shoots 30+ 3's per game. Desmarais and Laroche were limited to only 9 minutes total in the first half due to foul trouble but the Stingers bench, led by 6'2" second year wing Morgan Tajfel, with 2 3's and a big put-back, and steady 6'2" backup point Jean-Andre Moussignao, who ran the offense and didn't turn it over, allow Concordia to maintain a lead. Concordia was without starting 6'7" third-year center Kafil Eyitayo, an Engineering student who did not make the trip this weekend due to commitments writing a pair of weekend exams. This provide an opportunity for 6'7" 230 pound freshman Zack Brisebois (John Abbott) and he delivered with 13 points and 7 rebounds in a steady effort. Krah again led the way for the Stingers with 17 points.
Concordia heads to Rhode Island and Vermont next weekend for games against NCAA Division 1 teams. We owe a Laurentian preview and update big time by the way.
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