RECAP: #2 Ottawa drops tough nail-biter to #9 Lakehead in Thunder Bay

The Gee-Gees men's basketball team logged their first loss of the 2022-23 season on Friday, dropping a 69-65 nail-biter to #9 Lakehead in Thunder Bay.

After a competitive start, the Gee-Gees were up by 10 at halftime with a 42-32 win. Ottawa's lead was extended to 12 to start the third quarter, before the Thunderwolves started climbing back and the two teams battled for the remainder of the game.

Lakehead claimed the lead with just under 8 minutes remaining in the game, and despite the Gee-Gees' best efforts to turn the tides back in their favour in the dying minutes, Lakehead clinched the home win.

For Ottawa, Guillaume Pépin led the way with 14 points on the night, to go along with nine rebounds. Cole Newton had 13 points and four rebounds, while Quincy Louis-Jeune and Dragan Stajic rounded out Gee-Gees in double-figures with 12 and 11 points apiece.

In all, the Gee-Gees shot 39.1 per cent from the field, and turned the ball over 19 times, which Lakehead turned into 21 points.

Up next, the Gee-Gees will host two more quality opponents in Western (4-2) and Windsor (6-0) at Montpetit Hall on Nov. 25 and 26. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. on Friday, and 4 p.m. on Saturday.

The weekend will mark the team's Shoot for the Cure initiative as a part of the Gee-Gees' Think Pink campaign. Stay tuned to the @GeeGeesMBB social media accounts for more information in the coming days.

Tickets are available for purchase at tickets.geegees.ca