Box Score  
LENNOXVILLE, Que. -- Co-captains Simon Bibeau and Vincent Dufort both reached double figures in scoring as No.8-ranked McGill defeated Bishop's 55-48 in a men's basketball winter carnival game at the Mitchell gym, Saturday.

Bibeau tallied a game-high 15 points and Dufort posted a "double-double", helping McGill register their fifth consecutive decision over BU and improve their division-leading record to 8-2 atop the RSEQ standings.
 
The low-scoring game, which was the second in three nights and the back-end of a home-and-home confrontation between the two squads, was arguably not the prettiest form of college hoops.
 
"These two teams have played each other three times. We know them pretty well and they know us pretty well," explained Redmen head coach David DeAveiro. "The level of competition is extremely high and it is always hard to play a team back-to-back on the road in a hostile environment."
 
Whether it was fatigue or not, turnovers plagued the Redmen all night as they committed 24 compared to Bishop's 14. If it wasn't for the Gaiters shooting woes at 26.2 per cent (16-for-61) this game could have had a different look to it.
 
McGill, which led from start to finish, had a 16-11 advantage at the end of the first quarter. They then used a 20-point second stanza to go up comfortably 36-20 at halftime. The Gaiters came with resolve out of the break and outscored the visitors 16-8 in the third quarter.  They narrowed the gap to six in the final frame but a clutch, rare trey from Bibeau put McGill ahead by nine and effectively sealed the deal for the Redmen.
 
"(Bibeau) made a big shot tonight down the stretch, a three that got us over the hump," said DeAveiro. "He is pretty focused in his last year and wants to go out and show everyone he can play."
 
The 6-foot-2 senior from St. Bruno, Que., shot 4-for-9 from the floor, making one of two attempts from three-point land. He was a perfect 6-for-6 from the foul line and is ranked second among RSEQ leaders in that department with an 87.5 per cent success rate.
 
Dufort, a third-year education major from Smiths Falls, Ont., grinded for a game-high 36 minutes, pitching in 11 points and 10 rebounds. He also tallied two assists, two blocks and one steal. 
 
The big-man combo of Mike Andrews (6-10, 240) and Dave Belanger (6-5, 220) scored 11 apiece for Bishop's. Andrews added five rebounds and had three swats. Jona Bermillo also reached double digits, contributing 10 points.

The Redmen had a hot-hand in the first half, shooting a stellar 63.6 per cent (14/22) but cooled off significantly after halftime, making 20 of 46 for a final field-goal percentage of 43.5. They connected on 3-of -11 attempts from downtown.
 
Bishop's, which managed to take 15 more shots than McGill, in large part due to 16 offensive rebounds, could not find the net. They shot a putrid 26.2 per cent from the floor (16/61) and went just 2-for-18 from three-point range. 
 
Despite the Gaiters huge advantage under the offensive glass both teams finished with 38 rebounds apiece. Each went to the charity stripe 21 times, with McGill shooting a disappointing 57.1 per cent, while BU shot 66.7.

Up next for the Redmen (8-2) is last-place UQAM (2-8) who be the visitors at Love Competition Hall in McGill's annual "Pack the House" event on Thursday (Feb. 6) at 8.pm.. The game is slated to be streamed online at SSN Canada. Bishop's (6-4) will host Concordia (6-4) on Feb. 7 in a struggle for sole possession of second place in the RSEQ standings.  

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
 
Ryne Bondy and Earl Zukerman
McGill Sports Info Office
514-398-7012