Quebec City, QC – The UQAM Citadins still have something to prove in Quebec City.
The RSEQ is often viewed as a weaker conference in U SPORTS. The McGill Redbirds were the last RSEQ program to make it out of the national quarterfinal in 2018.
With an 88-80 win over the Winnipeg Wesmen in their consolation semifinal matchup, though, the Citadins get one more chance to matchup against a top team and a chance to be one of only three teams in their tournament to end their season with a win.
“Last night was tough,” Citadins forward Quincy Louis-Jeune said. We just wanted to come out and make a statement that we can play and that we’re still a top team in the country.”
They lost a tight quarterfinal to the Ottawa Gee-Gees, so the Citadins matched up with the other quarterfinal loser in their side of the bracket in the Wesmen, who fell 77-76 to Queen’s in their quarterfinal.
It marked the second consecutive time these two teams played in this game, as the Citadins took a 90-85 decision in double overtime in Halifax a season ago.
The consolation semifinal is one of the most challenging games to get up for in the tournament. A chance for a medal is gone, but a chance to play on Sunday remains.
For the Citadins, it was a chance to correct some of the things that went wrong in their quarterfinal matchup.
“We decided to play more together, have everyone contribute, play from one to ten and play the whole forty minutes,” Louis-Jeune said.
The teams split the first quarter 18-18, thanks to Winnipeg senior Shawn Maranan going 4/4 for 10 points with a pair of threes, but seven points off the bench for Louis-Jeune helped UQAM take a 48-42 lead at halftime.
In the second half, it was Kevin Civil’s time to take over, though.
The senior dropped 17 of his game-high 23 points in the second half. Despite the Wesman continuously chipping away, including an 11-2 run that cut the lead to 63-62 with 90 seconds to go in the third, they were never able to get the lead back.
“Kevin was amazing today,” Louis-Jeune said. I’ve been playing with this guy for about four years, so it’s been amazing to see him play.”
Civil’s 13 fourth-quarter points got the Wesmen out of reach, and the Citadins hung on for the 88-80 win.
With the win, the Citadins have the opportunity to play in the fifth-place game for the second consecutive season.
UQAM took an 89-85 win over Queen’s a season ago and will get a tough matchup in either the OUA Finalist Brock or Canada West champion in the upset #1 seed Victoria Vikes.
They aren’t worried, though.
“We’re gonna get it,” Louis-Jeune said.
“Just to prove to everyone here that we belong and we’re a top team in this country.”