TORONTO, THUNDER BAY – Sports – The Lakehead Thunderwolves men’s basketball team were defeated by the Carleton Ravens on Friday evening, 72-51. After 1st Q, it was 17-8 Carleton, as Dwayne Harvey had 5 points, and Ben Johnson sank a three early in the quarter. Other than that it was slim pickings, with Carleton’s Tyson Hinz putting in work in the paint. Hinz finished with 11pts and 5 rebounds in the first half. 

Lakehead Thunderwolves offense struggled

Sophomore Joseph Nitychoruk provided most of what little offence came in the second quarter, as Lakehead was stuck at 8 points from the 0:50 second mark of the first quarter until the 5:07 mark of the second with a free throw. Nitychoruk followed that one made free throw with 4 more straight, thanks to some hustle on the offensive glass. 

Despite Lakehead’s offence looking like a Pinto pulling a train, Carleton’s Ferrari looked like it was in need of a tune up as well, as the Ravens shot 25% in the 2nd Q, going 4-16 from the field. 

Halftime score was 30-16 Carleton 

The Ravens did pull themselves loose of the T-Wolves’ defensive grip in the third quarter, nearly doubling their score and scoring 23 in the Q. Lakehead did pick up its production, if only slightly, scoring 12 points and trailing 53-28 after 30 minutes.  

The fourth quarter was inconsequential, with Lakehead finishing with 2 fewer points scored than the last time they played Carleton, although they limited the Ravens to 22 fewer points than during their November 23 match-up in Ottawa. 

Yoosrie Salhia saw limited minutes in the first half, and only a couple in the second half once the Ravens began pulling away. It will be his energy stores that will likely be called upon in tomorrow’s bronze medal game. 

It was the ‘Three Joes’ doing above average damage for Lakehead, led by Joe Jones with 15 points, while Joey Nitychoruk had 12 points and 5 rebounds and Joe Hart had 8 points. Dwayne Harvey finished with 5 points and 6 rebounds. 

For the Ravens, Phillip Scrubb led with 15 points and 5 assists, while Tyson Hinz scored 14 points with 9 rebounds. Clinton Springer-Williams put up a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. 

Coach Scott Morrison commented, “I was happy with our defensive effort for most of the game. That said I thought some of our guys played scared and it showed in the form of horrendous shooting and poor turnovers in the first half. There is nothing to be gained from hanging our heads. We have to get locked in on tomorrow’s opponent and claim a CIS Final 8 berth.” 

Lakehead will play at 4pm tomorrow afternoon against the loser of the Windsor-Ottawa game being played this evening.