Fourth-year transfer Sean Nickel tallied a game-high 28 points to lead the Varsity Blues men’s basketball team to a 96-89 non-conference victory over the Bishop’s Gaiters on Friday, October 29 at the Athletic Centre Sports Gym.

Nickel of Kitchener, Ont., was 10-for-17, including 4-of-7 from beyond the arc, and also hauled in a team-high seven boards.

Four other Varsity Blues hit double digits: fourth-year guard Justin Homes posted 17 points, while fellow Toronto native Alex Hill had 16. Burnaby, B.C., native Andrew Wasik recorded 15 points, while Ben Garvin of Holland Landing, Ont., notched 11 in the win.

Bishop’s was led by Oraine Green’s (Toronto) 21-point performance. Tim Hunter (Baie d’Urfé, Que.) scored 13 points and added eight assists, while Onnex Blackwood (Toronto, Ont.) also scored 13 points.

U of T got out to an early 25-15 lead after the first quarter and held onto that 10-point advantage as both teams scored 21 points throughout the second frame. The Blues extended their lead for good in the third, but not without a scare. Down by 17 heading into the fourth, the Gaiters rallied to pull within five and had the Blues on their heels for the final three minutes of regulation.

The Varsity Blues return to the court tomorrow night when they host the McGill Redmen in another pre-season match-up. Tip off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

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