RECAP: Gee-Gees win Tindall Invitational, improve to 7-0 on the preseason

The Gee-Gees men's basketball team was in Kingston from Oct. 17-19 to participate in their final preseason tournament of the season at the Tindall Invitational hosted at Queen's University. 

Over the course of three days, the Gee-Gees took on the host Gaels as well as Regina and Memorial. The team went 3-0, winning the tournament and improving their U SPORTS preseason record to 7-0 heading into their final two non-conference contests before OUA play begins.

On Thursday, the Gee-Gees matched up with divisional foe Queen's defeating them handily by a 20-point 84-64 tally. Led by fifth-year point guard Calvin Epistola's 18-point, six-rebound, three-assist performance, the Gee-Gees earned a win over a team they will see twice in the regular season. Second-year forward Guillaume Pépin finished with 17 points and five rebounds, while first-year forward Thomas Chilton added 11 points and seven rebounds coming off the bench. 

Against Regina, the team was met by a scrappy Cougars team that were a handful throughout. Late in the fourth quarter, Epistola found second-year guard Kevin Civil, who hit a game-winning three-pointer to secure an 89-86 win. Epistola once again continued his outstanding play posting 24 points, five rebounds, and four steals. Civil (12), Gage Sabean (12), and Olivier Cadieux (11) rounded out Gee-Gees scoring in double-figures.

In the final game of the tournament, the Gee-Gees flexed their offensive muscles against Memorial securing a 93-60 win to close the tournament. Pépin led the way with 21 points and four rebounds, Civil added 15 points, Sabean had 13, and fifth-year guard Sean Stoqua had his first double-digit game of the preseason with 11 points. Overall, 12 different players registered a point in the win.

Epistola was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament and Pépin was named an All-Star.

Up next, the Gee-Gees will host Bishop's and McGill at Montpetit Hall this weekend for their final two preseason games. Bishop's enters with a 4-3 record in the pre-season, while McGill sits at 2-2 thus far.

Tip-off against Bishop's is set for 7 p.m. on Friday and McGill at 6 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets are $5 for adults and free for all under the age of 18.