Gill impresses as BU closes pre-season with win
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Munroop Gill looks like the real deal for the Brandon University Bobcats.
He dropped 16 points in BU’s 89-72 victory over the Algoma Thunderbirds in their U Sports men’s basketball pre-season game at the Healthy Living Centre on Thursday, his career-low by five.
But the rookie from Surrey, B.C., who netted 30 in a victory over the Memorial University of Newfoundland last week, will tell you he hasn’t done anything yet.
Munroop Gill led the Brandon University Bobcats with 16 points in an 89-72 win over the Algoma Thunderbirds in pre-season men’s basketball action at the Healthy Living Centre on Thursday. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)
“Nothing new to me. I’m just trying to fit in, trying to get everyone to come together,” Gill said. “Obviously, it’s pre-season, so it doesn’t really matter too much.”
“I try to play within the offence. I try to get my floater off a little bit, but other than that, it’s catch-and-shoot threes, fast-break layups, that’s all I need to do.”
Nonetheless, Bobcats head coach Gil Cheung is impressed.
“I don’t think you expect any first-year kid, or any kid, to score 30,” Cheung said. But … he can do a lot of other things. He gives us a spark, he loves the game, and he’s been doing great for us so far.
“He’s a competitor and he’s got really good basketball sense, gets his hands on a lot of balls, he’s a kid that just loves basketball and he’s been really good for us in the pre-season.”
Brandon started down 7-0 before Sultan Bhatti hit Travis Hamberger with a backdoor pass to get on the board.
That did little to spark the team, though, as Brandon trailed 14-5 midway through the opening quarter.
But after a timeout, Gill scored a quick 12 points to lead BU on a 16-2 run and lead 26-17 after 10 minutes.
The Thunderbirds closed the gap to six midway through the second, but the back half of the quarter belonged to BU’s imports.
DeMarco Duncan threw down a big dunk, then Malik Brown nailed an open three-pointer and added three layups to extend the lead.
Rookie Isaac Brown stepped on for the last 28 seconds and drilled a buzzer-beater triple to make it 55-39 at halftime.
Algoma’s Kal-el Alejo came out hot after halftime, adding 12 points after 13 in the opening 20 minutes in an attempt to cut into the lead. However, Brandon kept pace in a low-scoring third quarter, staying ahead 71-55.
Malik Brown scored 10 points for the Bobcats. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)
The Bobcats pulled further away in the fourth, allowing Cheung to send in the end of his bench for the final few minutes.
Overall, Cheung was content with the effort.
“We looked pretty good at times, and at times it looked like we haven’t played a ton together,” Cheung said.
“We have some pieces, but still a long way to go to try to knock down two of the top four teams in our conference to start.”
The Bobcats open the regular season at home on Oct. 24 against the Manitoba Bisons, then visit the Winnipeg Wesmen on Oct. 26.
Today, the BU volleyball teams kick off the regular season against the UBC Thunderbirds in Vancouver. The men’s match starts at 7:30 p.m. CDT, with the women to follow on Canada West TV.
» tfriesen@brandonsun.com
» Instagram: @thomasfriesen5