The York University Lions men's basketball team opens the 2015 season with a pair of home games against the Laurentian Voyageurs and Nipissing Lakers at the Tait McKenzie Centre this weekend.
 
The Match-ups: York (3-4) vs. Laurentian (2-5) and Nipissing (0-6)
 
Game Details
Laurentian – Friday, Jan. 9 @ 8pm, OUA.tv
Nipissing – Saturday, Jan. 10 @ 8pm, OUA.tv
 
Home/Away Records
York – 2-1 at home
Laurentian – 2-1 on the road
Nipissing – 0-2 on the road
 
Current Streak
York – Won 1
Laurentian – Lost 3
Nipissing – Lost 6
 
Last Meetings
The Lions and Voyageurs played three thrilling games last year. The Lions won the home regular-season meeting by 10 points, and in the two games at Laurentian lost both by a single point, both by the same 86-85 score. The second of those contests came in the first round of the playoffs, which eliminated the Lions from the post-season.
 
Saturday's game is the first regular-season meeting between York and Nipissing, as the Lakers are new to the OUA this year.
 
QUICK FACTS
 
York

• The Lions put together their most dominant game of the season in their last outing before the December break, defeating Algoma 110-75. The offensive output was the team's highest of the season and the first time they cracked the century mark.
• The Lions' best defensive effort came in a 67-60 win over Waterloo.
• The Lions are averaging 77.7 points scored this year, and 78.9 points allowed.
• The Lions will play five of their next six games at the Tait McKenzie Centre.

 
Laurentian

• Laurentian went 12-10 last year but is struggling this season with a 2-5 mark through seven games. They won two of their first four, over Algoma and Toronto, but have lost their last three to Ryerson, Guelph and Lakehead.
• The Voyageurs are scoring an average of 66.0 points per game and allowing 74.3.

 
Nipissing

• The Lakers are currently playing their first ever season in the OUA.
• The Lakers have lost their first six games to start the year, to Carleton, Ottawa, Toronto, Ryerson, Lakehead and Guelph. Their best offensive effort was 62 points against nationally-ranked Ottawa.
• The Lakers are averaging 52.5 points per game and allowing 88.7.
• Head coach Chris Cheng was an assistant with the Lions before being hired by the Lakers as their first ever head coach.

 
PLAYERS TO WATCH
 
York
 
F Nick Tufegdzich – An OUA all-star for the first time last year, he is one of only three players in the OUA averaging a double-double this season with 20.6 points and 10.6 rebounds. He is ranked fifth in the conference in scoring and second in rebounds.
 
G Gene Spagnuolo – The rookie guard is playing more than 17 minutes per game and ranks fourth on the team with 7.0 points per game.
 
Laurentian
 
G Ryan Bennett – The team's leading scorer with 16.1 points per game. He is also fourth with 3.7 rebounds per game.
 
G Tychon Carter-Newman – Ranks first on the team in rebounds (7.4) and assists (5.1) per game. He is also third in scoring with 12.4 points per game.
 
Nipissing
 
F Marcus Lewis – Leads the Lakers in scoring with 11.7 points per game, the only player in double digits.
 
G Jordon Campbell – Played his rookie season with the Lions before transferring to Nipissing. He is third in team scoring with 7.3 points per game, and second in rebounds (4.7) and assists (1.8) per game.