Voyageurs win thriller against ryerson rams

Date and Time :    18 January, 2013 — 20:00 pm

Game Recap:

SUDBURY, ON – After riding a 5 game losing streak, the Laurentian Voyageurs got back on track with a dramatic victory over the 10-1 Ryerson Rams. Close from start to finish, the game kept the crowd on the edge of their seats, and ended in fine fashion with Manny Pasquale sinking an excellent jump shot to win the game with just 1.9 seconds left on the clock, with the final score reading 75-73.

From the opening tip-off, the crowd inside the Ben Avery Gymnasium were thoroughly entertained, with the Rams opening up the scoring with an emphatic dunk. The energy of the game never died down during the first quarter, with both teams playing high-tempo basketball. For the Voyageurs, Manny Pasquale started strong, making some key 3-point efforts to keep the game close in the early stages. At the end of the first, the Rams held a slim 22-21 lead. The second quarter saw the same energy from the players, with excellent displays of athleticism on both teams. Nelson Yengue provided the highlight of the quarter, slamming home a dunk to leave the Ben Avery crowd on their feet again. This quarter also saw Alex Ratte display his offensive abilities, making some key plays to keep the Voyageurs close. In the dying stages of the half, a Nelson Yengue steal set up Manny Pasquale to hit a well-executed jump shot to see the Voyageurs enter the half time interval level with the Rams, at a score of 42-42.

The second half saw a scrappy start with both teams battling hard under the basket, not willing to give an inch to the opposition. This battle lasted the entire quarter, with neither team giving up; setting the stage for a thrilling fourth quarter, with the score now tied 56-56. With the Pot Bangers in full force the Laurentian Voyageurs pushed forward, with Alex Ratte’s 29 points leading the charge, and a double-double performance from Georges Serresse (13 points, 10 rebounds) solidifying the Laurentian performance. As the clock wound down, a huge block from Nelson Yengue prevented the Rams from opening up a 4 point lead with just 3 minutes left in the game. As the clock wound down, Alex Ratte kept his composure, hitting a clutch 3-pointer followed by a crucial jump shot to pull the Voyageurs level in the final minute. With just 24 seconds on the clock, it was Laurentian possession with Pasquale on the ball. Pasquale, showing patience and experience took his time, waiting for the opportune moment, and then, made a desperate drive to the basket. With his path blocked by two Ryerson players, Pasqaule stepped back and released a perfectly executed jump shot, with the clock showing just 1.9 seconds. This sealed the upset for the Voyageurs, who finally regained their winning ways.

The Voyageurs now look to complete the weekends game by collecting another win against the University of Toronto at 8pm, on Saturday at the Ben Avery Gymnasium.

For more information on your Voyageurs, visit www.luvoyageurs.com for the latest news and information.

Laurentian University's Department of Athletics is home to 15 varsity sports teams. The Voyageurs and Lady Vees decorated history of pride and tradition includes 61 provincial championships as well as 9 national championships in 50 years of competition.