One-point loss drops LU into tie for top spot

The Lakehead Thunderwolves men’s basketball team has built a season of success around fourth quarter comebacks, but Friday night they were on the wrong end of one as they dropped a 60-59 game at the C. J. Sanders Fieldhouse in Thunder Bay.

UWO outscored the hosts, 20-15 in the final 10 minutes and 33-24 in the second half en route to the victory. The loss drops No. 6 Lakehead (16-5) into a tie with the No. 8 Windsor Lancers atop the OUA West Division with one game left on their regular season schedule.

Western got 21 points and nine rebounds from senior forward Andrew Wedemire (Sarnia, Ontario) while Jason Miliquet and Marcus Barnet also reached double figures with 12 and 11 points, respectively as the ‘Stangs overcome a dismal 26.5 per cent shooting effort by going 19-24 from the free throw line.

Senior guard Jamie Searle and freshman post Ryan Thomson accounted for 13 points apiece to lead the Pack. Point guard Greg Carter added 10 points and a game-high five steals.

"It was a tough loss tonight for us as we had a lead and some opportunities down the stretch we could not convert,” said Thunderwolves head coach Scott Morrison. “Much credit to Western for winning the battle of the boards all night including the crucial possession at the end of the game to prevent us from getting a chance for a final shot."

The Mustangs outrebounded LU 41-36 overall and 13-7 on the offensive glass while limiting ‘Wolves post Yoosrie Salhia to just six rebounds and 1-8 shooting from the field. As a team, the Thunderwolves shot 34.8 per cent and were just 6-28 from beyond the arc.

Lakehead will look to end their regular season on a high note on Saturday night as they host the Mustangs again at the Fieldhouse. Tipoff is at 8 p.m.