THUNDER BAY – SPORTS – Lakehead’s men’s basketball team won their fourth game of the season Saturday afternoon, defeating the McMaster by a score of 93-79 in the Marauders’ home gym. Lakehead finishes the weekend 1-1, but wins the split with McMaster, coming out with a +8 point differential.
“Credit to McMaster and coach Tatham,” Thunderwolves head coach Ryan Thomson said. “He always has his guys ready to play at a high level, and so we knew we would be in a battle this afternoon.”
The Thunderwolves again found themselves playing from behind, as McMaster won the first quarter 21-17, and took a 45-40 lead into the half. Lakehead fought back, however, winning both periods of the second half, including a dominant 30-16 finish in the final frame. Lakehead forced the Marauders into 19 second-half turnovers and held McMaster to 1-6 from deep during the same stretch of the game.
“Our leaders stepped up, particularly Nick Burke and Michael Poirier,” Thomson said.
Burke stuffed the stat sheet with an impressive 31 points on 12-18 shooting, adding 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 7 steals. Poirier finished with 4 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists, but he provided a steady senior presence, including strong defence against McMaster’s Connor Gilmore. Gilmore was limited to 16 points and 10 rebounds on Saturday afternoon after getting 25 and 17 on Friday night.
The Thunderwolves were also helped by Isaiah Traylor’s 23 points and 5 rebounds, and Lock Lam’s 9 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 2 steals.
Lakehead returns home to the Thunderdome next weekend for home games against the Western Mustangs, who currently sit at 11-4, and first in the OUA West.
“It was a confidence builder for this group to get one on the road on a short turn around,” Thomson said. “Now we have to continue to grow together and keep building as a team.”
