LONDON, Ont. – The even-numbered quarters were good to the Lakehead Thunderwolves on Friday night.
The No. 8 T-Wolves outscored the host Western Mustangs by 15 points in the second quarter and 14 in the fourth, overcoming deficits on both occasions to pull out a 98-85 win, their second straight OUA triumph.
Lakehead trailed by two points three minutes into the final frame, but jumped in front on a Javier Fernandez three-pointer that started an 11-2 run as the Thunderwolves pulled away for good from a Mustangs team that came into play with a 4-4 record.
Six Lakehead players, led by Eric Gonzalez’s 19, hit double-dights for Thunder Bay, including Fernandez, who had 10 points and 10 rebounds for his first career OUA double-double.
Michael Okafor had 16 for the Wolves, who trailed 26-18 after one, but were up 52-45 at the half. Chris Sagl had 12 and Alston Harris and Dylan Morrison dropped 10 apiece.
Aryan Sharma, who keyed Western’s third-quarter comeback with 14 of his game-high 28, was instrumental in keeping the Mustangs in contention, as was Tyson Dunn, who put up 20 points.
Lakehead (7-2) faces a 6-2 Windsor Lancers team on the road on Saturday night, their final outing before the Christmas break.
In other OUA play, the No. 3 Brock Badgers upset No. 1 Carleton on the road, downing the Ravens 80-68.
