Box Score
MONTREAL - Co-captain Simon Bibeau scored a game-high 21 points as No.8-ranked McGill waltzed to a convincing 80-67 victory over visiting Bishop's in a battle for the RSEQ men's basketball division lead at Love Competition Hall, Thursday.
 
The result, McGill's fourth straight decision over Bishop's, moved the Redmen (7-2) into sole possession of first place, two points ahead of BU, which dropped to 6-3. It was McGill's second victory in as many meetings this season with the Gaiters, a team they knocked off in the RSEQ championship game last spring, after rallying from a 15-point deficit to win 77-74 in a heart-thumping affair.
 
McGill came out determined to prove that they were true contenders for the conference crown. The Redmen jumped into a stunning 29-7 first quarter lead and maintained a 45-20 advantage a halftime before calling off the dogs and making liberal substitutions. Bishop's outscored McGill 20-18 in the third stanza and 27-17 in the final quarter.
 
"We had an outstanding start," said fourth-year Redmen head coach David DeAveiro, who registered his 70th win in 124 games overall behind the McGill bench. "The guys came out focused and played one of our best first halves of the season."
 
Bibeau, a 6-foot-2 senior from St. Bruno, Que., shot 5-for-8 from the floor, including a 3-for-4 performance from three-point range. He was a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line.
 
However, he was not the only Redmen with a hot hand, Dele Ogundokun, a freshman guard from Hamilton, Ont., conributed 17 points on 7-for-9 shooting. He went 3-for-4 from downtown and 0-for-2 from the line. Nathan Joyal, a forward from St. Lazare, Que., also collected 17 points and grabbed six rebounds. He shot 7-of-11 from the field, including a 3-for-5 performance from beyond the arc.
 
Overall, McGill connected on 42.2 per cent from the field (27/64), including a reputable 9-for-21 from three-point land. They drained only 17 of 26 trips to the line ().

The Gaiters struggled to find the basket, shooting just 32.8 per cent from the floor (22/67). They made 4-of-14 from three point range (65.4%) but only 19 of 34 from the charity stripe (55.5%).
 
Jaleel Webb led the way for Bishop's with 14 points while the big-man combo of Mike Andrews (6-foot-10) and Dave Belanger (6-foot-5) scored 11 apiece. 
 
The same two teams will square off again on Saturday at 6 p.m. in a hostile Mitchell Gym in Lennoxville before an expected capacity crowd for Carnival Week. The teams also have another confrontation scheduled for Valentine's Day.
 
"We have to get ready for a team that is going to be hungry to beat us," added DeAveiro, fearing a possible mental lapse after a relatively easy win. "We will watch film tomorrow and walk through any issues on the court, making us ready for Saturday."