The York University Lions men's basketball team hit the road for a matchup against the Nipissing Lakers for the first leg of their northern tour.
York came out aggressively and traded baskets with the Lakers through a tightly contested first quarter, eventually trailing just 25–22 after 10 minutes thanks to early finishes from Jeremiah Kwarteng and Nickele Harris, who established the Lions' presence around the rim.
The back-and-forth rhythm continued early in the second frame, but Nipissing's perimeter shooting soon shifted the tone of the game. The Lakers went on a 12–2 run, forcing York into an early timeout. The Lions responded immediately through Remil Tissington, who provided a needed offensive spark off the bench; his three from the right wing cut Nipissing's lead back to single digits. Still, the Lakers' hot shooting persisted, and York entered halftime down 55–38 despite strong first-half contributions from Harris and Kwarteng, who combined for 21 before the break.
York opened the third moving the ball well and generating high-percentage looks. Nathan Carr and Kwarteng attacked the paint to chip away at the deficit, while Tissington continued to heat up from beyond the arc, knocking down another key three to keep the Lions within reach. But Nipissing countered consistently from deep, connecting on 15 triples overall, which made it difficult for York to slow their momentum. The Lions trailed 74–53 heading into the final quarter.
To their credit, York refused to fade. The fourth quarter was their strongest offensive frame of the night, as Kwarteng took over with aggressive downhill play, eventually finishing with a team-high 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists, a dominant all-around performance that kept York competitive in the closing minutes. Tissington's efficiency from deep (4-for-11 from three, 21 points) provided another late push, while Harris delivered one of his most complete games of the season with 12 points, 7 rebounds, and emphatic rim protection that stalled several Nipissing possessions. York outscored the Lakers in the fourth, showing resilience and sustained effort, but Nipissing's early lead sealed the result: a 102–80 loss for the Lions.
LOOKING AHEAD:
After dropping the opener of their northern trip, the Lions remain on the road as they turn their attention to the Laurentian Voyageurs tomorrow, November 22. Tip-off is set for 8:00 pm.
