All-star guard Kyle Desmarais hit a free throw with two seconds to play to give the Concordia Stingers a 66-65 win over the Laval Rouge et Or in the RSEQ men’s basketball semifinal at Concordia gym tonight.
The Stingers were in control in the first half and had a 39-34 lead at the break. But the momentum swung in the second half, and Concordia found itself down by 12 points – 59-47 – with 7:41 left in the game.
Head coach John Dore’s team chipped away at Laval’s lead and only pulled in front on Desmarais’ free throw in the dying seconds.
“Kyle did what he had to do,” said Dore after the emotional victory. “He’s won some big games for us this year. It’s like he wills the ball into the basket.”
Desmarais, a third-year player, finished the night with 11 points and four rebounds. League MVP Evens Laroche was the leading scorer on the Stingers with 17 points.
A couple of Laval players had double-doubles. Etienne Labrecque led all scorers in the game with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Boris Hadzimuratovic chipped in with 14 points and 14 rebounds.
The first-place Stingers (14-2) will host the third-place UQAM Citadins (7-9) in the Quebec championship on Saturday at 7 p.m. UQAM upset the second-place McGill Redmen (10-6) 75-72 in the other semifinal game.
“I’m not surprised at all to be playing UQAM,” Dore said. “The Citadins have a lot of very talented athletes, including two first team all-stars. It will be a good game.”
