All-Canadian point guard Damian Buckley scored 19 points to eclipse the 1,000 career point mark in a 75-66 win over the Laval Rouge et Or at Concordia gym on Saturday afternoon.
Buckley went into the game needing 12 points to reach the milestone in Quebec conference regular season play. He had 11 points in the first half of the game and then sunk a three-pointer early in the third quarter to break the mark.
“I didn’t think I would, but I was thinking about it before the game,” said Buckley. “I knew when I hit it in the game. It was a good feeling.”
In four seasons, Buckley has played 56 QSSF regular season games. His point total now stands at 1,007.
More importantly for Buckley and the Stingers was the win over Laval.
“It’s huge for us,” he said. “It’s good for the standings and gives us a major chance to host a playoff game.”
The victory – coupled with a 77-58 win over the Rouge et Or in Quebec City the previous night – has huge implications. Concordia’s record improves to 8-4, while Laval falls to 6-6.
The Stingers, who are in first place in the QSSF, now own tiebreakers with both the Rouge et Or and the UQAM Citadins.
The Stingers have four games left in the regular season. Next weekend, Concordia hosts the Bishop’s Gaiters on Friday night at 6. The teams meet again the following day in Lennoxville, Que.
