The Concordia Stingers wrapped up the three-day CIS Final 8 men’s basketball championship with an 83-76 loss to the Ottawa Gee-Gees in the consolation final at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa on Sunday afternoon.
Concordia went into the nationals as the seventh seed and finished sixth in the competition.
“Coming to the nationals is a great experience,” said Stinger head coach John Dore, reflecting on his team’s time at the Final 8. “I wish I could take every Concordia player every year.”
Fifth-year forward Dwayne Buckley had a 15-point, 14-rebound double-double in his final university game with the Stingers. Centre Jamal Gallier, also playing in his last game, had 15 points.
All-Canadian point guard Damian Buckley, a fourth-year Stinger, was the top scorer for Concordia with 17 points. With two free throws at the start of the third quarter, he hit an impressive milestone, reaching 2000 points in his university career. He now stands at 2009 as a member of the Stingers.
It was an emotional day for the team as three Stingers played out their university eligibility.
“Jamal (Gallier), Dwayne (Buckley) and Levi (Vann) are sad,” said Dore outside the locker room after the game. “It’s over for them. But they’ve had a great experience here and great careers.”
