North Bay, ON – The Nipissing Lakers Men's Basketball team secured a big win at home Friday, November 21, against the York Lions, 102-80.
The Lakers began the game with a 7-2 run courtesy of a Chris-Evrard Malonga layup and Mateja Vukic jump-shot. York responded and tied the game at 11 at 4:33 of the first quarter. Vukic hit another from the field at 2:45, giving the Lakers an 18-14 lead. Ryan Heim added a 3-pointer at 1:53. York kept pace, and tied the game at 22-22 with 50 seconds remaining in the quarter. Alex Blackmore then hit a buzzer-beater 3-pointer to give the Lakers a 25-22 lead after one quarter.
Chris-Evrard Malonga hit a dunk at 7:07 in the second as the Lakers lead 29-22. Alvin Icyogere added a 3-pointer at 6:38 and the lead grew to 10. Andrew Latham added a 3-pointer at 5:04 to give the Lakers a 38-25 lead. Mateja Vukic added another 3-pointer at 3:45 to grow the lead. York answered with a 3 pointer at 2:31 in the second, but Connor Pritchard's layup extended Nipissing's lead to 13 again at 1:58. Bryan Oswald-Ayih hit a 3 pointer, followed soon by another Vukic 3-pointer, as the Lakers lead 55-38 at halftime.
The Lakers were keen on extending their lead in the third quarter and did just that. Jeziyah Excell-Johnson scored a 3-pointer at 3:53, giving the Lakers a 20-point lead at 68-48. The Lakers would add two Chris-Evrard Malonga layups and lead 74-53.
Excell-Johnson opened the fourth quarter strongly, hitting a 3-pointer 12 seconds into the final frame to give the Lakers a 24 point lead.
Excell-Johnson would score 11 in the quarter, including 3 3-pointers, to help put the game away for Nipissing. Bryan Oswald-Ayih shot 2/3 from beyond the arc in the final frame, adding 6 to his 12 total points in the game. Ryan Heim scored Nipissing's 100th point in the game – the first time Nipissing has enterred triple-digits in a game this season.
This game would end 102-80 for the Lakers, securing their 3rd win of the season to sit at 3-7 overall.
Excell-Johnson had 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 steal. Mateja Vukic had 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 9 assists. Chris-Evrard Malonga scored 15, and added 11 rebounds and a block. Alvin Icyogere scored 14 and added 4 rebounds and an assist. Bryan Oswald-Ayih dropped 12 points, 1 rebound, and a game-high 13 assists off the bench in the win.
Men's basketball is back in action on the road Friday, November 28th in Toronto for a matchup with the Varsity Blues. Tip-off is 8PM on OUA.tv.
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