The University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's basketball team capped off 2018 with a 78-75 road victory over the Lakehead Thunderwolves on Saturday night (Dec. 1).
TORONTO STATS: Evan Shadkami was 5-for-10 from beyond the arc with a game-high 29 points. The second-year guard also added three rebounds and three assists. First-year guard Inaki Alvarez was the next top scorer for the Blues, netting 16 points and grabbing three rebounds. Nikola Paradina chipped in with nine points, eight boards, a steal and a block.
HOW IT HAPPENED: Alvarez and Daniel Johansson set the tone early, combining to score 15 points in the first quarter, which helped establish an early 22-16 lead over the Thunderwolves. Shadkami poured in a trio of three-pointer for a total of 11 point in the second quarter. That kick-started a 12-0 Blues run to end the half and head into the locker room up 46-29.
Lakehead started to chip away at Toronto's lead early in the second half. The home team outscored U of T, 22-13 in the third quarter, to enter the final frame down eight, 59-51. The Thunderwolves kept the energy up, which allowed them to cut the lead to one (76-75) with less than two minutes left. A clutch basket by Paradina with 90 seconds to go was all the Blues needed to hold on to the victory.
UP NEXT: The Varsity Blues are back in action the first weekend of 2019, when they host the No. 7 Ottawa Gee-Gees on Saturday, January 5 at Goldring Centre. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m.
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