Game recap by: Kirk Jessome
(Halifax, NS) – In Saturday night USports pre-season basketball action, the Nipissing Lakers visited the Dalhousie Tigers at the Dalplex. With a strong shooting performance to start the game, the Tigers were able to jump to a quick lead that the Lakers were never able to make up, as the Tigers came away with the 82-56 victory in their final preseason game.
Sven Stammberger (Halifax, NS) got the Tigers going in the first, scoring 16 of the team's first 23 points, going 7/8 from the field. Stammberger's hot shooting, combined with strong defensive rebounding allowed the Tigers to jump out to a quick ten-point lead, halfway through the first quarter.
Nipissing played a strong swing game in the first, creating space along the perimeter for open 3-point shots. The majority of their shots in the quarter were taken from beyond the arc – 8/13 total – but they were not able to convert them at a high rate, shooting just 37%.
The first quarter ended with a strong finish from Justin Shaver (Ottawa, ON) for an old-school 3-point play. Heading into the second, the Tigers were leading 25-16.
First year Keevan Veinot (Port Williams, NS) showed the poise needed to play at a high level in the second quarter. After finishing a hard drive through the lane with a big dunk, he displayed fantastic vision on the court by finding Cedric Sanogo (Montreal, QC) open underneath the hoop twice to pick up assists. Veinot was aggressive with drives to the hoop and finished the half with 10 points.
Stammberger continued his scoring display as he finished the half with 25 points to lead all scoring.
The Lakers were balanced in scoring throughout the first half, led by Marcus Lewis (Brampton, ON) with 9 points and 4 boards in the first half.
The first half came to a close with the Tigers leading by a score of 49-33.
Both teams started the second half with some big plays. Lakers big man Justin Shaver proved he wasn't just an inside threat as he knocked down a shot from long-range to start the quarter.
For the Tigers, Veinot continued to pick up beautiful assists as he found Stammberger streaking to the hoop in transition to finish with a hard dunk.
Shaver continued to lead the Lakers in the third quarter with 8 of their 12 points in the quarter, including another 3-pointer.
With the Tigers lead growing, they were able to get players in from the bench, and play a strong pass-and-cut style of offense that opened the game up for Warren Liang (Vancouver, BC) to pick up 5 quick points.
The Tigers finished out the third quarter leading 66-45.
The Tigers picked up the defensive intensity, even with the lead, with strong defensive rebounds, and big blocks from Alex Carson (Lower Sackville, NS) and first year Tyler Williams (Dallas, TX).
The Lakers continued to get the majority of their scoring from Shaver from the outside, and Lewis with strong drives finishing at the rim.
Nipissing looked to apply pressure with their full-court press after made baskets, the Tigers were able to capitalize on the transition game through passing including a long ally-oop pass from Sascha Kappos (Miami, FL) to Stammberger.
As the Tigers dribbled out the final seconds, they came away with the 82-56 victory to wrap-up their preseason.
The Tigers will open up their regular season next Friday against Cape Breton in the X Tip Off Tournament. Nipissing will start their regular season on November 3rd as they take on Wilfrid Laurier University.