GUELPH, THUNDER BAY – Sports – The Lakehead University Mens Thunderwolves are 9-1 in 2013 “It was a great character win tonight against a Guelph team that did not back down and kept coming at us. I was proud of our guys who battled over 40 minutes including several hustle plays that will likely remain with us this week in the form of floor burns. Now it is time to rest up and get ready for the “fun” stuff as we have to consider the playoffs starting next week,” Coach Scott Morrison commented.
Thunderwolves Started Fast
[sws_pullquote_left] It was a great character win tonight against a Guelph team that did not back down and kept coming at us – Coach Morrison [/sws_pullquote_left] With a 79-66 win on Saturday evening, the men’s basketball team (12-5) secured the weekend sweep over the Guelph Gryphons.
The Thunderwolves jumped out to a 25-13 lead after the first quarter. Following that, the two teams would exchange scoring runs, but the Lakehead University squad would maintain a 10-point cushion for the remainder of the game, thanks to tough defensive play and an incredibly efficient shooting performance by Ryan Thomson.
Thomson continued his scoring streak against the Guelph team, this time scoring 22 points on a near perfect shooting night, going 8-of-9 from the field (4-4 from three), hitting both of his free throws and grabbing 5 rebounds. Ben Johnson hit 2 threes en route to a 10-point, 5 rebound performance.
Yoosrie Salhia scored 10 and grabbed 11 rebounds (5 offensive) as he continues his crusade for the OUA rebounding crown (currently sitting in 2nd with 172, 5 back of Windsor’s Lien Phillip). Salhia added 3 steals and 2 blocked shots in 29 minutes of play.
Three other Thunderwolves scored 9 points, led by Greg Carter who also dropped 5 dimes in the contest, along with Joe Hart (Southend, UK) and Matthew Schmidt (Thunder Bay, ON).
Guelph was led by Ahmed Haroon with 19 points and 6 rebounds. Dan McCarthy scored 17 while Jack Beatty chipped in 11.
Lakehead out-rebounded Guelph 33-16, in a game that saw both teams shoot well from the floor (Lakehead 49%, Guelph 47%).
The men face the Windsor Lancers (14-3, OUA West #1, CIS #4) in the Thunder Dome next weekend in a series that will see the top 2 teams in the OUA West face off in a marquis match-up that Thunder Bay’s basketball faithful have long been awaiting.
Saturday night’s game will be Seniors Night. The Thunderwolves will see the final regular season games played by 6 graduating members of the men’s team, as well as 1 graduating member of the women’s team.
