2015 Summer Universiade: Berhanemeskel’s big game fuels win over Estonia, Canada finishes 7th

GWANGJU, South Korea (Team Canada) – Johnny Berhanemeskel was nearly unstoppable in Canada’s 91-65 win over Estonia to capture seventh place in the final standings at the 2015 Summer Universiade. The Ottawa, Ont., native scored 26 points including eight three-pointers and also counted four rebounds and three assists.

July 13, 2015

GWANGJU, South Korea (Team Canada) – Johnny Berhanemeskel was nearly unstoppable in Canada's 91-65 win over Estonia to capture seventh place in the final standings at the 2015 Summer Universiade. The Ottawa, Ont., native scored 26 points including eight three-pointers and also counted four rebounds and three assists.

Gwangju 2015 website: www.gwangju2015.com

Team Canada website: http://english.cis-sic.ca/universiade/summer/2015/index

Team Canada Twitter: @CDNUniversiade | #goCanadaU

"The guys found me, and it was a fun night. To end on a win and show that we all worked together was so cool," said Berhanemeskel, who was the 2015 CIS Player of the Year. "The hospitality that Korea has shown us has been unbelievable. Five years of basketball, who knew it would ever bring me to Asia to play for Canada. To represent my team mates back home and my family has been an awesome experience."

Berhanemeskel's performance was particularly impressive as he suffered a broken tooth and split his lip taking a charge against Mongolia three games ago. After visits to the hospital and dentists, he was back on the floor the next day and was cleared to play each day after a morning dental visit.

"Coming this far across the world, I could suck up a little bit of pain for a once in a lifetime opportunity," noted the Ottawa Gee-Gee who played every game of his five year CIS career. "It's been an awesome experience and something that I'll be able to take with me. It will help me grow as a person, I think, so I am truly grateful for coming out here."

Canada trailed 21-20 after the first quarter but quickly turned things around, winning the second quarter 16-8 for a seven point halftime lead.

"This was a must win game for us, we weren't willing to go out on a loss. We just kept our heads high, passed the ball, and trusted each other," said Mike Andrews of Oakville, Ont. (Bishop's University) who added 12 points inside.

Andrews was active in the third quarter. The six-foot-eight centre gave Canada a double digit lead at the 50-39 mark and contributed at both ends of the floor to close out the quarter at 62-47. Three triples for Berhanemeskel to open the fourth left no doubt that Canada would walk away with the victory.

"We really came together. Being selected here was a great honour, and working hard all camp to get to day 25 was a great experience," added Andrews.

Chris McLaughlin (University of Victoria) and Josh Wolfram (Thompson Rivers University) also scored 12 points apiece, while Caleb Agada (University of Ottawa) led Canada's rebounding efforts with eight.

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Source: CIS