MONTREAL – Samuel Chaput of Longueuil, Que., posted a sparkling 30-point performance as McGill came up with a huge 89-76 victory over visiting Bishop's in RSEQ men's basketball at Love Competition Hall, Thursday.
 
The Redbirds led 22-11 after the first quarter and 47-34 at halftime but that wasn't safe as they have made a habit of second half power failures this season. And when the Gaiters won the third quarter 25-17 to reduce the deficit to 64-59, the comeback appeared imminent. But McGill moved into overdrive to win the final stanza 25-17.
 
The result moved McGill (3-8) only two points behind the fourth-place Gaiters (4-7) with an all-important rematch in two days at the Mitchell Gym in Lennoxville.
 
Chaput's tally was the highest by a McGill player in league play since Sam Jenkins hit 36 in a 101-78 win over visiting Laval on Nov. 7, 2019. However, including non-conference play, Chaput did have 32 points against Waterloo at Dalhousie's Rod Shoveller tournament last December.
 
A first-year transfer after four seasons in the NCAA, Chaput shot 6-for-16 from the field, 3-for-9 from the arc and a staggering 15-for-16 from the free-throw line. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound guard added five assists, three rebounds and three steals.  He was four shy of the single-game RSEQ and McGill record of 19 successful free-throws (in 22 attempts) by Moustafa El Zanaty at UQAM on Dec. 1, 2007. 

This was also the highest recorded RSEQ freebie tally in a decade, since a 17-for-17 performance by UQAM's Eric Cote-Kougnima against Concordia on Jan. 5, 2012. Also, Concordia's Kyle Desmarais once drained 16 of 21 attempts in a game at UQAM on Nov. 13, 2010.

Chaput was one of four double-digit scorers for McGill, along with 17 apiece from Sam Jenkins and Haris Elezovic. Ibrahim Gosselin-Diawara added 10 and Kevin Li contributed nine off the bench.

Jenkins also collected a game-high seven assists, with five rebounds and four steals.

Four Gaiters reached double figures in scoring, led by 18 apiece from Tiernan McDougall and Zachary John, along with 13 each from Charles Robert and Etienne Gagnon, who added a dozen rebounds for a double-double.

Bishop's had the edge in rebounds (37-28) but McGill held an advantageous margin in turnovers (21-15) and steals (11-5).

The Redbirds shot 45.5 per cent from the field (30/66), went 10-for-29 from trey territory and made a sizzling 19 of 23 from the charity stripe.

BU shot 42.2 per cent in field-goals (27/64), wnet 6-for-21 from the arc and drained 16 of 21 freebies.

The Redbirds have now taken two of three meetings against Bishop's, losing 73-71 in Lennoxville (Nov. 3), then sweeping both home contests 69-64 (Dec. 3) and 89-76.

After Saturday's upcoming game at Bishop's, McGill's remaining schedule includes three consecutive confrontations against Concordia (Feb. 9, 11, 18) before closing out league play at UQAM (Feb. 25). The Gaiters are slated to play UQAM three times (Feb. 9, 11, 23) and at Laval (Feb. 17).

BOXSCORE

STANDINGS & STATS

SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Sports Information Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
514-398-7012 (Tel.)
www.mcgillathletics.ca
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca