It wasn't exactly the start they were looking for, but the finish was exactly what the No. 2 team in the nation was expected to do.
The Lakehead Thunderwolves men's basketball team got off to a shaky home-court start Friday against the McMaster Marauders, but rallied in the third quarter to erase a 12-point deficit, then pushed ahead for good in the fourth to earn an 83-76 win.
Coach Scott Morrison said his team might have gotten a little luck, if not a little sloppy, in this one.
"As good as we looked at times in the second half; we were very fortunate to escape with the win after a poor showing and effort in the first half. We have a great record right now but we depend on 100 per cent effort from our players as well as executing a team orientated game plan to get wins," he said.
"When one of those factors is not evident on the court -- we risk getting blown out of the gym. Mac is a well-coached team with some veteran players to go with talented freshmen. We'd better be at our best for a longer period of time tomorrow night."
Trailing 40-31 at the half and seemingly on the ropes after missing all eight three-pointers in the first-two quarters, while the Marauders nailed four of 10 fired from long distance range, the Wolves actually watch McMaster extend their lead as the third quarter wore on.
But the No. 3 scoring team in Canada showed they're not just a defensive squad anymore, working their way back with timely –and accurate – shooting when the game was on the line.
Ben Johnson buried a three as time ran out in the third, a shot that tied the game 56-56. It was also the final time the Wolves would trail in the contest.
Greg Carter responded with a quick hoop to start the fourth stanza, though the teams traded hoops for the first few minutes of the final quarter.
Joseph Jones dropped a trey to put the Wolves up 65-62, but a few trips later McMaster's Satar Wahidi sank one of his own, evening the score at 67 apiece.
LU's Yoosrie Salhia, a 55 per cent shooter from the free throw line, was fouled and hit his first to re-establish a slim one-point lead, then Venzal Russell, who led all scorers with 19, took over.
Russell stole the ball and raced down the court, getting the basket on a goaltending call that went against McMaster.
After Aaaron Redpath failed to score on the Marauder's subsequent trip down the court, Carter was sent scott-free to the hoop, pushing the Lakehead lead to five. The Hamilton school never closed the gap below four the rest of the way.
Salhia finished with a double-double, collecting 15 points and 13 boards, while Carter knocked down 10 points and had six assists. Johnson was also strong for LU, collecting 14 points and dishing out six assists, and Ryan Thomson, who struggled offensively, contributed seven rebounds, five assists and no turnovers.
Cam Michaud led the way for McMaster (9-4), with 14 points. Adam Presutti had 12 to go with eight rebounds and seven assists.
The two teams will do it again on Saturday night. Game time at the C.J. Sanders Fieldhouse is 8 p.m.
