Thomson jumper helps basketball Wolves take second

Ryan Thomson came through in the clutch.

The fourth-year forward nailed a jump shot with eight seconds left in regulation, then Ben Johnson buried a pair of free throws with four seconds to go, lifting the No. 8 Lakehead Thunderwolves to a second-place clinching 78-75 win over the host McMaster Marauders on Friday night.

With 19 seconds to play Adam Presutti hit a three-pointer to give McMaster a 75-74 lead, a team who needed to win to preserve any chance of second place in the OUA West and a first-round bye in the opening round of the basketball playoffs.

Thomson finished with 22 for the Wolves, while Johnson added 19 and Dwayne Harvey netted 18. Nathan McCarthy scored 21 for McMaster, who finished the first half on a 12-2 run and led 45-41 at the break. They upped their lead to six after three.

But Johnson made back-to-back jumpers to start the fourth, then countered a Presutti three with one of his own to keep Lakehead in contention. Johnson later hit a three that tied the score 69-69. Greg Carter also hit a pair of clutch shots down the stretch.

McMaster (12-8) will finish third and will play either Guelph or Waterloo in the opening round of the playoffs.

The Wolves (15-5) will open the OUA playoffs next Saturday at home with a second-round match.