McMaster University Athletics

In a game that ebbed and flowed with the changing of the quarters, McMaster found itself on the outside looking in when regulation ran its course Saturday.

The Marauders rode convincing performances in the first and third quarters to a lead through 30 minutes, but floundered in the fourth en route to their second consecutive loss, dropping an 80-74 decision to the Laurentian Voyageurs in Sudbury.

A career night for third-year forward Kwasi Adu-Poku led the way for the Marauders in defeat, as the Toronto native shot five of nine from the field, hit one of his two attempts from three-point range and added six more from the stripe for 17 points.

Continuing his steady return to action as a Marauder, Connor Gilmore posted a double double with 16 points and 12 boards, hitting six of 15 attempts from the field.

McMaster raced out of the gates Saturday, knocking down 21 points in the opening quarter and holding a commanding 10-point lead through 10 minutes of play.

But that advantage evaporated in the second, where the Marauders were held to just nine points and conceded 25, limping into the halftime break trailing 36-30.

The visitors found their most effective offensive stretch in the third, exploding for 26 points as a group and retaking the lead at 56-51 as the teams sized up the final 10 minutes.

There, the Voyageurs stepped up their level and secured the win on home court, enjoying their most efficient shooting of the night when it mattered and out-scoring the Marauders 29-18 in the fourth.

NEXT UP: McMaster returns to Burridge Gym to host the Ryerson Rams and Toronto Varsity Blues on Friday, November 16 and Saturday, November 17 respectively. Both games will tip off at 8:00 p.m.