Voyageurs Downed by Lakers in Battle of Highway 17
The Laurentian Voyageurs men's basketball team made an impromptu start to 2025 with a second trip to North Bay to face-off once again against the Nipissing Lakers after their meeting at the end of 2024 was cut short due to unforeseen circumstances forcing a rescheduled game on Sunday.
After finishing the first half of the season winning 6 of their last 8 games in 2024 the Voyageurs were looking to start off the new year with that same momentum to continue to drive themselves up the OUA standings. On the Lakers side they were looking to kick start the new year with a much needed win as they go into the second half of the season on the outside looking in of the OUA playoffs.
With the game underway the Lakers immediately took advantage of some key scoring opportunities. Led by 8 points in the quarter by Ricardo Neves, Nipissing would shoot nearly 70% from the field in the first including 4 three point makes leading to a massive 29 points to give them an early 9 point lead.
The Voyageurs were able to slow down the Lakers' offense in the second quarter; with the defense holding their opponents to just 37% shooting in the second. However on the offensive end the Voyageurs would continue to struggle. Their shooting from the field in the first half would be below 40%. They also shot just 4-9 from the free throw line allowing the Lakers to go into the second half leading 46-35.
The majority of the third quarter seemed to be the same story we had seen throughout most of the game as Laurentian just couldn't seem to go on a sustained run to crack the Laker lead. Voyageurs point guard Nginyu Ngala was able to put up 9 of his game high 30 points in the third all coming off three point shots in which he would go 3-3 in the third. Despite this, by the end of the quarter the Voyageurs could only cut the lead by 1 as Nipissing would lead by 10 going into the final ten minutes.
In the fourth the Voyageurs would put up a valiant effort as they pushed to make an unlikely comeback. In the end though it was too little too late as the late push was all for not. Nipissing was able to hold on picking up the win in the first game of the home and home series between the two sides this season.
The final score would end 83-79 in favour of the Lakers with the aforementioned Ngala being the Voyageurs standout performer on the day as he would put up a season high 30 points along with 4 assists and a steal.
Laurentian goes back on the road next weekend as they take on the Queen's Gaels and Ontario Tech Ridgebacks on Friday and Saturday with both games scheduled for 8pm.
- Andrew Lemieux