GORMAN HEATS UP IN HAWKS WIN OVER YORK

HALIFAX (CIS) - Brandon Gorman scored 20 points, including 18 in the first half on six three-pointers, to lead the 10th-ranked Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks to a 76-65 win over the No. 8 York Lions, and a ninth-place finish at the 2006 Canadian Interuniversity Sport men's basketball Final 10 at the Metro Centre in Halifax.

Championship web site: http://www.cisport.ca/e/championships/m_basketball/2006

This marks Laurier's first win at the CIS tournament since 1969. The Hawks, OUA West finalists this season, were making their first appearance at the nationals since 1978.

Gorman, a 6-foot-4 forward from North Bay, Ont. made good on six of seven attempts from long distance in only seven minutes of play in the opening period. He did not try another three the rest of the way, finishing with 20 points in 14 minutes of court time.

First-year point guard Jesse MacDonald of Brantford, Ont. and sophomore Matthew Walker of Waterloo, Ont. added 13 points apiece for the winning side.

6-foot-10 centre Jordan Froebel of Ancaster, Ont. and 6-foot-7 forward Dan Eves of Barrie, Ont., both fourth-year veterans, put up outstanding efforts for York in the losing cause, tallying 23 points and nine rebounds apiece. Both were sent to the line often in a match that featured 50 personal fouls, Eves sinking eight of 11 free throws while Froebel went 11-for-15 from the charity stripe.

Laurier led from start to finish in the all-OUA affair, and for long moments by double digits. York came back late in the contest to make it a five-point game in the final minute, at 70-65, but it was too little too late.

The Hawks shot 36.1 percent on the day, including 41.7 percent (10-for-24) from beyond the arc. The Lions finished at 31.4 percent, and were good on only three of 14 attempts from long distance.

STAT LEADERS

No. 10 Wilfrid Laurier 41-35: 76

No. 8 York 34-31:65

Laurier

Points - Brandon Gorman (20), Matthew Walker (13), Jesse MacDonald (13) Rebounds - Matthew Walker (5), Andrew MacKay (5), Trevor Csima (5) Assists - Todd Cooney (6) Minutes - Matthew Walker (25), Andrew MacKay (25)

York

Points - Dan Eves (23), Jordan Froebel (23) Rebounds - Dan Eves (9), Jordan Froebel (9) Assists - Four players with 2 Minutes - Dan Eves (31), Jordan Froebel (30), Tut Ruach (30)


SEEDING, SCHEDULE & RESULTS (All times LOCAL / Atlantic Time)

1. Victoria Vikes
2. UBC Thunderbirds
3. Carleton Ravens
4. StFX X-Men
5. McMaster Marauders
6. UQAM Citadins
7. Cape Breton Capers
8. York Lions
9. Saskatchewan Huskies
10. Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks


Thursday, March 16
Game #1: Cape Breton 62, Wilfrid Laurier 53 Game #2: Saskatchewan (75), York 74

Friday, March 17
Consolation (9th place): Wilfrid Laurier 76, York 65
13:00 Quarter-final #1: UQAM (6) vs. Carleton (3)
15:00 Quarter-final #2: Cape Breton (7) vs. UBC (2)
18:00 Quarter-final #3: McMaster (5) vs. StFX (4) 20:00
Quarter-final #4: Saskatchewan (9) vs. Victoria (1) (Live on The Score)

Saturday, March 18
11:30 Consolation #1
13:30 Consolation #2
18:30 Semi-final #1 (Live on The Score)
21:00 Semi-final #2 (Live on The Score)

Sunday, March 19
13:00 Consolation final (5th place)
16:00 Championship final (Live on The Score)

- CIS -

(Source: Michel Belanger, CIS Communications Manager.)

(Photo: Laurier's Wade Currie Ds up on York guard Omar Passley in the Hawks 76-65 win at Nationals Friday. Photo by Stuart Pearce.)