Give the Windsor Lancers another five minutes or so, and they just might have completed their comeback.
Then again, the extra time might have given Ben Johnson, Venzal Russell and Matthew Schmidt more time to perfect their long distance range. Not that they really needed any help.
Russell and Johnson buried four three-pointers on the night and Schmidt nailed three, leading the No. 2 Lakehead Thunderwolves (13-2) to an 87-83 road win over Windsor that regained them a share of top spot in the OUA West.
The Wolves opened a nine-point lead after one, and looked like they might run away with this one. But turnovers – 22 in all – helped the Lancers keep it close, narrowing the gap to six at the half.
But The Wolves hung tough in the high-scoring third quarter, upping the lead to seven again, and hung on against a charging Windsor squad that had the crowd on its feet most of the fourth quarter, taking a one-point lead at one point before Johnson answered with a three that regained Lakehead the lead for good.
Russell had 20 points to lead the Thunderwolves, with Johnson falling just a point shy of sharing top scoring honours on the night with 19.
Windsor was led by Enrico Di Loreto, who scored 22 in a losing effort.
Windsor fell four points back in the OUA West, falling to 11-4. The two teams will wrap up their weekend set on Saturday night.
Follow Leith Dunick on Twitter: @LeithDunick
