MONTREAL – Rookie Noah Sincere came off the bench to score a game-high 19 points but it was insufficient as the McGill men's basketball team dropped a must-win confrontation against Laval in a 71-50 decision at Love Competition Hall, Saturday.
 
This was the 161st meeting overall between these provincial rivals since the 1971-72 season and McGill leads the head-to-head series by a 92-69 margin.
 
The result, however, put fourth-place Laval (4-9) in the driver's seat for the final playoff berth in the RSEQ conference. The Redbirds (2-11) trail Laval by four points with only three games remaining on the calendar. To qualify for post-season play, McGill would have to win all three remaining contests and hope that Laval would lose all three of theirs.
 
The Rouge et Or led from start to finish, exploding out of the gates with a 27-16 advantage after the first quarter. They took a 38-29 lead into halftime and were ahead 58-41 after three, then took the final frame 13-9.
 
Laval had a significant 25-16 advantage in turnovers that converted into a lopsided 29-9 difference on the scoreboard.
 
Five Laval players reached double digit scoring, including Jayden Larosiliere (15), Brandon Maniani-Wembe (12), Fabrice Watier-Berthiaume (11), Alex Marchand (11) and Steeve Joseph (10).
 
Sincere's 19-points (in 22 minutes of court time) was a regular season high and one short of the 20 he tallied in a preseason contest against UPEI on Oct. 17. He shot 6-for-12, including a 3-for-6 effort from long-distance. He also was credited with two rebounds, a pair of steals and one assist.
 
Teammate Georges Lefebvre added 11 points and seven rebounds for the Redbirds.
 
Laval shot 36.4 per cent on their field-goal attempts (24/66), 5-for-24 from downtown and 18-for-26 from the free-throw line. McGill connected on 31.9 per cent from the floor (15/47), went 5-for-23 from trey territory and drained 15 of 21 from the line.
 
Next week, Laval plays at second-place Concordia (10-2) on Feb. 13, while the Redbirds will host division-leading Bishop's (12-2) on Feb. 15 in a 6 pm tip-off at Love Competition Hall. It will be the last home game of the season and the team's graduating seniors will be recognized for their contribution to the program.
 
BOXSCORE

RSEQ STATS & STANDINGS
 
U SPORTS STANDINGS
 
SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Communications Officer
McGill Athletics and Recreation
(514) 983- 7012
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca
www.mcgillathletics.ca