The Concordia Stingers pushed the perennial powerhouse Carleton Ravens to the limit before succumbing 73-66 in opening round action at the CIS men’s basketball national championship in Halifax tonight.
The Stingers went into the tournament as the No. 7 seed, while the Ravens, who have lost just one game to Canadian competition this season, were seeded second.
“We gave ourselves a chance,” said Concordia head coach John Dore after the game. “We just couldn’t get over the top.”
The Stingers had a one-point lead in the dying seconds of the first half, but eventually went into the locker room down 34-33. Concordia continued to battle hard against Carleton who held a slim 54-52 advantage after three quarters.
“In the end we needed a break and we just didn’t get it,” said Dore. “The difference in the game was rebounding and second chance shots. But we’re a young team and I think we competed hard.”
Stinger guard Decee Krah led all scorers in the game with 21 points, including 15 from three-pointers. Point guard Kyle Desmarais chipped in with 17 points and forward Evens Laroche had the double-double – 10 points and 10 rebounds.
The top scorer on the Ravens was Tyson Hinz, the CIS Player of the Year, with 19 points.
Concordia will meet the Dalhousie Tigers in a consolation semifinal game on Saturday at 1:15 p.m. eastern. Carleton will face the No. 3-seeded Saskatchewan Huskies in the championship semifinals.
