MONTREAL – Rookie Saransh Padhy scored a career best and game-high 23 points but it was all in vain as the McGill men's basketball team came up on the short end of an 89-86 decision to Concordia at the John Dore Court, Thursday.
 
The tale of the tape was measured from the free-throw line, where Concordia went 22-for-28, compared to the Redbirds, who drained eight of 14.

The game featured a first-ever head-to-head match-up of starting brothers with Alec Phaneuf suiting up for the Stingers and his 20-year-old younger sibling Matt Phaneuf in the starting five for McGill. Alec, a 5-foot-9 sociology junior, scored 22 points and had a pair of rebounds in 36 minutes of court time, while Matt, a 5-foot-9 economics freshman, tallied 11 points and two rebounds in 37 minutes of action. The natives of Gatineau, Que., had played in the previous meeting between these crosstown rivals on Nov. 11 but only Alec was in the starting lineup for that one.

Padhy, a 6-foot-6, 217-pound post from Stouffville, Ont., shot 10-for-17 from the floor, including 1-for-2 in three-point attempts. The 19-year-old electrical engineering freshman also went 2-for-3 from the charity stripe. He pulled down five rebounds and saw 25 minutes of court time.
 
Padhy was one a season-high five Redbirds in double-digit scoring. He was joined by Sean Herscovitch (18), Cameron Elliot (15), Joshua Soifer (12) and the aforementioned Phaneuf (11).

Concordia led 22-18 after the opening quarter but the Redbirds rallied in the second to hold a narrow 40-38 advantage into the intermission. The Stingers took the third 22-17 to regain the lead at 60-57 after three quarters and both teams poured in 29 points apiece in wild final stanza.

Pacing the Stingers attack was Phaneuf (22), Tyrell Williams (16) and Sami Jahan (14).

McGill shot 49.3 per cent from the floor (34/69) and went 10-for-24 from trey territory. Concordia shot 47 per cent (31/66) and went 5-for-21 from long distance. The Stingers had a 39-30 edge in rebounding.

The game featured three technical fouls, including one on Concordia head coach Rastko Popovic , another on the Stingers Bradley Louidon and the other on McGill's Saransh Padhy.

The third confrontation between these fierce foes will be in just two days as they will hook up on Saturday (Jan. 13) in a 4 p.m. tip-off at Love Competition Hall (475 Pine Avenue West). Immediately after the game will be a McGill hoops Homecoming reception. Alumni can register for that event at this link.
 
BOXSCORE

RSEQ STANDINGS & STATS

SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Sports Information Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
514-983-7012 (cell)
www.mcgillathletics.ca
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca