Box Score
OTTAWA -- Jenning Leung, a native of the Philippines, scored 17 points and led McGill to a spirited 74-70 come-from-behind victory over Ottawa to sweep the Jack Donohue tournament in the nation's capital, Sunday.

The Redmen had opened the tourney with a 91-84 win over UNB on Friday, followed by a 90-67 victory over York, Saturday.

For Ottawa, this was the first loss of the season in nine games against CIS opponents.  It marked McGill's first victory over Ottawa, one of the premiere CIS programs and the 2015 national finalists, since an 85-54 decision at the Redbird Classic tourney on Oct. 21, 2012. 

"Beating my old team is irrelevant for me," said McGill bench boss David DeAveiro, who once played for Ottawa (1984-1989), then spent 14 years on their coaching staff, including nine as head coach and now has two victories in seven tries over the Gee-Gees.  "I am more proud and happy for the players. This is the reward these guys deserve. They have been working hard at practice and now we know we can compete with the best in the country."

McGill jumped out of the gate to lead 21-15 after the first quarter before Ottawa battled back and tied it up 31-31 by halftime. The Gee-Gees retained the momentum out of the break and took a 53-46 lead, into the final quarter. McGill trailed by as much as eight in the final frame until they went on an impressive 18-6 run to close out the game. "The third and the beginning of the fourth quarter were tough," admitted DeAveiro. "We took their best punch and survived it. We were able to to fight back and hit some clutch shots down the stretch." 
 
One of those key baskets was a long trey by Leung, a 6-foot-1 junior point guard, which finally regained the lead for McGill for good, at 65-64, with just over four minutes remaining. He also had a layup and a nifty assist in the dying seconds to put the Gee-Gees away.

Leung, a 20-year-old psychology major, was 6-for-14 from the floor including a 2-for-6 effort from beyond the arc. He was also 3-for-4 from the foul-line and was named the tournament MVP after registering 46 points, seven rebounds four assists and two steals over the three days. He shot 41.7 per cent from the floor (15/36), 28.6 from three-point range (6/21) and 76.9 from the charity stripe (10/13).

"Jenning is a tremendous story," noted DeAveiro. "Coming in as a walk-on a couple years ago and now he is our starting point guard. He dedicates himself and takes pride in what he does and has earned these results."

Joining Leung on the all-tournament team was Dele Ogundokun of Hamilton, Ont., who registered a "double-double" in the final game with an 18-point, 13-rebound performance. The reigning RSEQ defensive player of the year collected 46 points over the tourney, with 26 rebounds, 12 assists, one block and five steals.

Also standing out for McGill was team captain Vincent Dufort of Smiths Falls, Ont., who had 16 points and pulled down nine rebounds against Ottawa. Francois Bourque was the final Redmen to reach double digits in scoring posting 10 points and eight rebounds. 

McGill shot 45 per cent from the field (27/60) and made 10 of 20 three-pointers but sank just 10 of 20 from the free-throw line. The Gee-Gees replied with 39.1 per cent from the field (27/69), went 9-for-24 from the arc and made seven of 11 from the line.

Top scorer for Ottawa was tourney all-star Caleb Agada with a game-high 28 points, 14 rebounds and four steals.
 
In the consolation game, UNB took the bronze with a 91-81 decision over York, with UNB's Javon Masters and the Lions' Nathan Culbreath being named to the all-tourney team. The Gee-Gees will travel to play the Indiana Hoosiers on Nov. 3 before open their OUA season on Nov. 6 at home against Nipissing.

McGill, which improved to 7-1 against CIS opponents in preseason play and will now switch their focus to a couple of cross-boarder matchups. They will travel to Baltimore, Md., to battle Loyola Maryland on Nov. 5 and then head for Cambridge, Mass., to take on Harvard, Nov. 7.
 

Jack Donohue Tournament

All-Star Team

Javon Masters – UNB

Nathan Culbreath – York

Mike L'Africain – Ottawa

Caleb Agada – Ottawa

Dele Ogundokun – McGill

Jenning Leung – McGill (Tournament MVP)

Results

October 30, 2015
Ottawa 91, York 79
McGill 91, UNB 84

October 31, 2015
McGill 90, York 67
Ottawa 102, UNB 82

November 1, 2015
UNB 91, York 81
McGill 74, Ottawa 70

FOR MORE INFO, CONTACT:
Ryne Bondy or Earl Zukerman
McGill Sports Info Office
514-398-7012