THUNDER BAY – SPORTS – The Lakehead University men’s basketball team’s season is down to a win-or-go-home game on Wednesday evening against the Western Mustangs at 8pm in London.
The round one playoff matchup is a fresh memory for the ‘Wolves, who were humbled by the Mustangs just five days ago, dropping an 84-69 loss at Alumni Hall.
“It’s always nice to make the playoffs in OUA. Everyone one is 0-0 with a chance to win because of how competitive the OUA is,” commented Furtado.
If anything, Lakehead should have an advantage in playing a familiar opponent so soon, in a game that harkens back to the days when Lakehead and Western used to do battle on back-to-back nights.
Wednesday’s matchup is also a repeat of the 2013-14 playoffs, when many of the same Mustangs (Morrow, Spiridis, Scholtes, Filgiano) helped to oust Lakehead, 68-65 in the first round in the Thunderdome. Thunderwolves Henry Tan and Alex Robichaud played major minutes in that game, and are charged with returning the favour to the Mustangs in London on Wednesday night.
Of course, Tan and Robichaud will have the help of Bacarius Dinkins in exacting their revenge, who had 17 points on 12 shots last Friday in London.
In terms of strategy for Wednesday, it would be expected that Lakehead won’t send Mustang Tony Spiridis to the free throw line 15 times as they did in Friday’s matchup, and in turn shoot more free throws this time around (only 10 free throw attempts on Friday).
The Thunderwolves will need to keep a close check on Greg Morrow, the all-time leading scorer for Western, who leads the OUA with 24 points per game.
All in all, it will be a high pressure game, with Western fielding four 5th year seniors that are playing to extend their careers, while Alex Robichaud is the only departing Thunderwolf, but whose team has a score to settle with the Mustangs.
Furtado continues, “We need to execute the game plan for 40 minutes and compete every possession to give ourselves a chance against Western.”
Game will be webcast via OUA TV.
Game Schedule vs Western Mustangs
Wednesday @ Alumni Hall
8:00pm
