U SPORTS RECAP: Gee-Gees make it rain, down Winnipeg 91-70
HALIFAX (U SPORTS) – The No. 2-seeded University of Ottawa Gee-Gees cruise to a 91-70 win over the No. 7 Winnipeg Wesmen on Friday afternoon in the second quarterfinal of the 2023 U SPORTS Men's Final 8.
Both teams struggled early to get the ball to drop until a scramble under the Winnipeg basket, halfway through the quarter, saw the third layup attempt for the Gee-Gees finally fall. The Gee-Gees then went on a 13-3 run to end the first quarter up 23-11.
The Wesmen found it hard to defend the Gee-Gees' balanced offence and creative passing. Cole Newton and Guillaume Pepin ended the half with 11 points each. Their Gee-Gees teammate, Dragon Stajic, was strong on the boards in the first half, pulling down an impressive 6 rebounds.
The second half continued in a similar fashion, with Pepin shooting 90 per cent from the field and ending the third quarter with 20 points. The Gee-Gees led the Wesmen 69-48 heading into the final frame.
Mikhail Mikhailov had a strong fourth quarter for the Wesmen, finishing the game with a team-high 20 points on his way to being named the Nike Top Performer for his side. Unfortunately, it was not enough to climb out of the hole they were in, and the Gee-Gees cruised to the 91-70 win over Winnipeg.
The win by the Gee-Gees sets up an all-Ottawa semifinal on Saturday at 6 p.m. (all times Atlantic). The Gee-Gees beat the Ravens in the OUA Final last weekend. The Wesmen fall to the consolation round and face the UQAM Citadins in the noon game on Saturday.
Nike Top Performers
- Ottawa Gee-Gees: Guillaume Pepin
- Winnipeg Wesmen: Mikhail Mikhailov