Gill earns Canada West athlete of week
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Munroop Gill turned the first quarter of Friday’s men’s basketball game into his personal highlight reel.
The next seven quarters against the Alberta Golden Bears were special, too.
The Brandon University Bobcats guard was recognized as Canada West men’s basketball player of the week on Tuesday.
Brandon University's Munroop Gill was named the Canada West men's basketball player of the week on Tuesday, after scoring 43 points in a win over Alberta on Friday and adding 31 in a loss the following night. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)
“It was my first one, and I’m really excited, proud of myself. But at the end of the day, getting two (wins), that’s the only thing that really matters,” Gill said. “MacEwan this week should be two. Everyone’s looking motivated to be better.”
Gill dropped 18 points without a three-pointer in the first quarter against Alberta. He had 29 by halftime, and ended with an astonishing 43, including a few massive shots down the stretch and three free throws to ice the game, 97-91 for BU’s first victory of the season.
The Surrey, B.C., native is leading the country with 31 points per game.
Gill’s 43 points is the most by a Bobcat in a Canada West contest, while tying all-Canadian and national champion Keith Vassell for the most in any regular season game. Vassell scored 43 against the University of Winnipeg on Feb. 8, 1992, in the Great Plains Athletic Conference.
In exhibition play, Vassell scored 52 against Minot State in North Dakota in 1995 as Brandon won 107-103 in overtime.
Other 43-point performances by Bobcats include Dave Bauman against the Canadian Bible College in 1969, and five-time all-Canadian John Carson against the University of Saskatchewan in 1985.
Vassell and Carson, both six-foot-four, had the physical tools to take advantage of mismatches. Carson also had plenty of years of experience, as he was 28 when he led BU to its first national championship in 1987.
While some would argue points are inflated with the amount of three-point shooting in today’s game, Gill only attempted three on Friday, making two clutch triples in the second half.
The majority of his scoring as he went 16-for-29 from the field was on plays he beat his defender to create enough space for an off-balance jumper or layup.
“Being a smaller guy at 5-11, it’s always going to be harder, so you’ve always got to work harder than everyone else,” said Gill, who also had four steals and nine rebounds. “Just following the (defensive) game plan and knowing where you are, where to be in the right situations.”
Gill added 31 points on 13-of-22 shooting on Saturday as Brandon lost 97-83.
The Bobcats (1-3) are off to Edmonton to face the MacEwan University Griffins this Friday and Saturday.
While they’re 0-4, it’s likely they put more attention on Gill to avoid a repeat of last weekend.
“I’ve got full faith in all of my teammates,” Gill said. “They all put in that work and if it’s not my night, it’s going to be someone else’s night. We’ve just got to get the win, and that’s the only thing that matters.”
Meanwhile, the BU volleyball teams host the UBC Thunderbirds.
Brandon University’s Wall of Fame breakfast is on Sunday, as a volleyball-heavy class of 2026 will be inducted.
» tfriesen@brandonsun.com