MBB | Stagnant Start Too Much To Overcome for Voyageurs

The start of the final road trip of the season for the Laurentian men's basketball team saw them fall 88-66 to the number 1 ranked Carleton Ravens on Friday night.

The start of the game showed the Voyageurs exactly why the Ravens are the top team in Canada. Quickly, Laurentian was met by a fierce Raven defense and an even more potent offense. Paced by 55% shooting from the field and 100% shooting from 3-point range, the Ravens exploded for 27 points in the first quarter while holding Laurentian to just five of their own, putting the Ravens up 22 going into the second quarter.

In the second, the scoring improved from the Voyageurs and, in stark contrast to the first quarter, Laurentian looked evenly matched as they came up with timely stops while scoring on the good looks they were given, putting up 17 in the second. The big story in the first half was rebounding as Carleton had 24 first half rebounds compared to Laurentian's seven. This stat resulted in continuous second chance points for the Ravens and with it, a 49- 22 lead going into half.

The second half was almost a formality as the Voyageurs were outscored 17-11 and the lead grew to over 30 going into the fourth quarter. From there though, it seemed the Voyageurs had found new life. Gaetan Chamand scored all 16 of his team high points in fourth, looking as though everything he touched turned into a basket. That, coupled with nine points off 3-5 shooting from Ethan Cudney off the bench, and, before you knew it, Laurentian had a game high 33 points in the fourth quarter. Despite the late heroics, they were defeated 88-66 in the end.

The game's top performers were Chamand's 16 points and Caillou Lacroix, who put up 13 of his own along with five steals on the night.

The Voyageurs round out their final road trip of the season with a game against the Ottawa Gee-Gees on Saturday at 6pm at Montpetit Hall.

Andrew Lemieux