U SPORTS: Quarterfinal 1: Gee-Gees victorious over Citadins

The Gee-Gees kicked off the 2024 GreenShield U SPORTS Men's Basketball Final 8, presented by Michelob Ultra, defeating the third-seeded UQAM Citadins 78-71 in the first quarterfinal match of the event Friday afternoon at the Laval University PEPS in Quebec City.

One of the wildcard teams invited at this year's national tournament, the Gee-Gees had an 11-0 run in the third quarter to upend the Montreal-based team in the opening match. The Gee-Gees took only a few minutes to run away from a 48-48 tie in the final moment of the third quarter, to a comfortable 59-48 lead at the beginning of the fourth.

Second-team All-Canadian Brock Newton was once again a key performer for the Gee-Gees with 23 points in 38 minutes of play. Dragan Stajic did well also for Ottawa with 15 points and four steals.

Led by a 24-point performance by Bahaide Haidara, the Citadins tried to come back late in the game, cutting down the Ottawans' lead to six points, but it was too little, too late. Even if they are used to play at the Laval University PEPS, the RSEQ champions appeared a bit lost in first few minutes, letting the Gee-Gees go on an 8-0 opening run. 

Ottawa will now face the winner of the quarterfinal duel opposing the Queen's Gaels (second seed and SUO champions) and the Winnipeg Wesmen (seventh seed and Canada West finalists).

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING:

"We just got stops, our defence was just a little bit better. We were able to turn them over and made enough plays in the end. It was really our defence in the third and early fourth quarters that gave us the lead and that was the difference today." – Gee-Gees head coach James Derouin on how the team defeated UQAM.

"It's so important to us, we have such a good support network, from the alumni to the people we see every day, it's truly special to be a part of. I just hope we can show out for them and make them proud." – Brock Newton on what it means to be in contention for the program's first national title.