MBB: Thunderwolves eke into playoffs with back-to-back losses

The road to a national championship will take place entirely away from home for the Lakehead Thunderwolves men’s basketball team.

Coach Manny Furtado’s squad squeaked into the playoffs on Saturday night, despite a lopsided 81-60 loss to the Windsor Lancers in LU’s regular-season finale.

The Guelph Gryphons helped Lakehead’s cause, losing 65-62 to the Brock Badgers to finish at 9-10. The Thunderwolves wrapped up play at 10-9.

However, because the University of Toronto did not defeat the Queen’s Gaels on Saturday, Lakehead will almost assuredly not host a playoff game, slipping to ninth spot in the RPI standings, meaning they’ll head to Western for their playoff opener on Wednesday.

Nick Burke led the Wolves with just 10 points as the Lancers defence smothered the LU offence, not allowing more than 16 points in any quarter.

Alex Robichaud and Bacarius Dinkins each finished with nine points for the Thunderwolves. Alex Campbell led the Windsor attack with 21.

Ryerson earned the top spot in the RPI playoff rankings, with Ottawa, Carleton and McMaster rounding out the top four and also garnering first-round byes.

Windsor, the No. 5 seed, will take on Laurentian – 0-13 versus OUA playoff teams –to open the playoffs. Other matchups include Queens against Laurier and Brock will take on York.