WATERLOO, Ont. - For the second straight weekend, the Golden Hawks have taken both games of a back-to-back, and now extend their win streak to five games.
Taye Donald led the way with 28 points and a career-high nine assists as Laurier defeated the visiting Nipissing Lakers 81-66.
The game didn't start the way the Golden Hawks were hoping, as they struggled to get buckets, shooting just 4-18 from the field in the first quarter. The lone spark on offence was Conestoga College transfer Terell Lloyd, who followed up an eight-point, six-rebound performance on Friday with another solid game, scoring three and grabbing seven boards.
Laurier did well to keep the game close on defence, but Nipissing still led 16-10 heading into the second.
The second quarter saw the offence pick up. The Lakers didn't make it easy, but eventually the Golden Hawks regained the lead on an 8-0 run powered by two Isaiah Fisher three-pointers.
The teams traded leads, but it was Laurier ahead 33-31 at halftime.
The third quarter saw the start of the Taye Donald show. The second-year guard scored 15 of the team's 24 points in the frame as they extended their lead to 56-51.
Manager of men's basketball operations has been hesitant to make this comparison in the past, but the way Donald took over the game bore an undeniable resemblance to one Ali Sow.
"I was on the phone with Ali this week," shared Serresse. "I was like, Taye's showing signs [of being] like you... he's the real deal, he had 34 against Algoma. He said "yeah, but I had 41." That's just Ali's competitiveness, but it's all love."
"Since I've met Taye, I saw something in him that made me say he could be like Ali, but in his own way."
On three occasions, Donald stripped the ball and created a breakaway for himself, something Laurier fans saw Sow do countless times. Unlike Sow, who had a habit of jumping out of the gym for a dunk, Donald laid it in for the easy points.
Donald's reliance on skill and finesse over speed and explosiveness is evident in the way he creates space for himself, weaving through defenders and finding paths to the rim that no one else on the court can see.
For Donald, outbursts like Saturday's are all about doing what it takes to get the win. "It's just kind of finding what's needed in the moment, whether that's me scoring or finding teammates to get them open."
He continued to do both in the fourth quarter, as the Golden Hawks outscored the Lakers 24-15 to put the game well out of reach.
With the win, the Golden Hawks improve to 5-1 and move into first place in the OUA West division. Nipissing, meanwhile, falls to 1-5.
BY THE NUMBERS
8
Starting at the five for the second straight game in place of the injured Majok Deng, Nana Boateng scored a career-high eight points while also grabbing seven rebounds and two steals.
"It doesn't really change anything," said Boateng on taking on a bigger role in Deng's absence. "Day in and day out we're doing this all the time in practice."
Third-year forward Chidera Ubosi also saw increased minutes off the bench and also scored a career-high eight points while pulling down eight boards and two blocks.
Also, with eight points in this game, Nipissing's Jordan Kenning. The Kitchener native spent four seasons with the Golden Hawks, and is playing his fifth year of eligibility with the Lakers while pursuing his Bachelor of Education.
25
Nipissing was led in points (25), rebounds (eight), and assists (three), by second-year guard Darnaz Mabanza.
UP NEXT
The Golden Hawks are back in action on Wednesday, November 22 at 8 p.m. when they face division rivals Guelph on the road. Last year, the Golden Hawks won at Guelph on a buzzer beater, before hitting another buzzer to force overtime and taking the second matchup at home as well.
Follow @WLUAthletics for live updates and catch all the action on OUA.tv.
