UQAM outlasts Winnipeg in double overtime
Halifax (U SPORTS) – Université du Québec à Montréal Citadins beat the Winnipeg Wesmen 90-85 in double overtime on Saturday in their consolation semifinal game at the 2023 U SPORTS Final 8 Men’s Basketball Championship.
Halifax (U SPORTS) – Université du Québec à Montréal Citadins beat the Winnipeg Wesmen 90-85 in double overtime on Saturday in their consolation semifinal game at the 2023 U SPORTS Final 8 Men's Basketball Championship.
The Winnipeg Wesmen started off the game strong with Mikhail Mikhailov recording eight of their 26 first-quarter points. At the end of the first quarter, the Wesmen led the Citadins 26-19.
The second quarter saw both teams play some wide-open basketball with several long, inbound passes to open players up the court. Citadins Mcfadden Jean was able to catch one of these plays and deny Winnipeg's Mikhailov with a block that got the crowd on its feet. The block didn't deter Mikhailov, who continued his hot play from Friday, finishing the half with 14 points and five rebounds. The Wesmen were up by eight at the end of the half.
A low-scoring third quarter saw Winnipeg maintain a lead heading into the fourth.
The Citadins slowly started to chip away at Winnipeg's lead in the fourth quarter. In the final three minutes of the game, the Citadins tied it up and were pushing for the win. A steal by Elie Karojo and a basket by Jean put the Citadins up by two before a timeout was called.
Coming out of the timeout, the Citadins made a layup to tie the game. Returning to the court after a Winnipeg timeout, the Wesmen were unsuccessful with their play, giving the Citadins a chance to go for the win. Bahaide Haidara received the inbound ball and drove to the basket for the winning layup, but the ball wouldn't drop, and the game headed to the first overtime period of the weekend.
The momentum UQAM had built up in the fourth quarter carried through to the overtime period, getting out to an early five-point lead. The two teams exchanged baskets, but ultimately the first overtime period was not enough for either team to take the win. The teams were tied at 79 when the final buzzer went.
The second overtime period started much the same as the first, with the Citadins building an early lead. This time however, UQAM kept the lead and went on to win 90-85. This marks UQAM's first win at the U SPORTS men's basketball championship in program history.
Winnipeg's Mikhailov would end the game with an impressive 15 rebounds and 19 points, with teammate Shawn Maranan recording a team-high 20 points on the way to being named the Nike Top Performer. On the Citadins side, Karojo would end the game with 20 rebounds and Nike Top Performer Bahaide Haidara would record a game-high 31 points.
UQAM now moves on to the consolation final on Sunday at 12 p.m. AT.
Nike Top Performers
- Winnipeg: Shawn Maranan
- Université du Québec à Montréal: Bahaide Haidara