LIONS ADVANCE IN OT THRILLER
Ruach led the way for the Lions, scoring a game-high 29 points, while recording six assists, five steals and three rebounds in 41 minutes of play. Dan Eves notched a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds, while going 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. Fourth-year centre Jordan Foebel recorded a double-double with a 10-point and 10-rebound performance. The 6'10' centre also tallied a game-high four blocks.
Throughout the entire game the Lions and Voyageurs went back and fourth in a hard-fought contest. Foebel and Laurentian's Ben Palmer led their respective teams throughout the first half, battling each other aggressively on both ends of the court. York escaped the opening frame with a 46-40 lead.
The Lions jumped out to a quick start in the second half with Eves hitting a three-pointer to stretch the lead to 49-40. The York defence was able to contain Palmer during the second half but a resilient Voyageur squad stepped up and kept the game close. With the scored knotted at 76-76 and with less than 27 seconds left in the game, Laurentian had the last shot and a chance for the win. Strong defensive pressure from the Lions forced an awkward shot by Bryan Colbridge that missed, sending the game into overtime.
In the extra period, Ruach took control by scoring seven of his team's nine points. With the shot clock off and the score 83-80 in favour of the Lions, Laurentian had difficulty getting a foul and wasted nine seconds before sending Ruach to the line. Ruach buried both free-throws and secured York's place in Saturday's Semifinals.
Brody Bishop scored a team-high 20 points on 7-of-10 from the floor for the Voyageurs, while Matt Brown recorded 13 points and seven rebounds. Palmer fouled out mid-way through overtime but finished the game with 12 points, seven rebounds and three steals.
The Lions shot 41.5 per cent from the field, including 41.7 per cent from three-point range. York scored 22 points off Laurentian's 19 turnovers. The Voyageurs shot 45.8 per cent from the field, while its bench out-scored its York counterparts by a lopsided 53-9 margin.
(Source: Don Lane, York Sports Information.)
(Photo: Dan Eves goes to the hoop in York's 85-82 win over laurentian. Photo by Andrew Craig.)