The York University Lions men's basketball team will play two games in the friendly confines of the Tait McKenzie Centre this weekend when they host the Algoma Thunderbirds and Guelph Gryphons on Friday and Saturday night.
 
The Match-ups: York (1-2) vs. Algoma (1-3) and Guelph (0-4)
 
Game Details
Algoma – Friday, Nov. 9 @ 8pm, OUA.tv
Guelph – Saturday, Nov. 10 @ 8pm, OUA.tv
 
Home/Away Records
York – 0-1 at home
Algoma – 1-3 on the road
Guelph – 0-3 on the road
 
Current Streak
York – Lost 1
Algoma – Lost 3
Guelph – Lost 4
 
Last Meetings
The Lions dropped a close game to the Thunderbirds last season, losing 73-71 at Algoma. The two teams have been evenly matched in recent years, as the Thunderbirds also won 76-73 in the 2016-17 season while the Lions picked up a one-point victory by a score of 68-67 in 2015-16
 
Guelph is on a three-game winning streak against York, as the Lions last victory against the Gryphons came during the 2014-15 season when they won a high-scoring 93-85 game on the road.
 
QUICK FACTS
 
York

• The Lions picked up their first win of the season last weekend beating the Windsor Lancers by a score of 76-73 on the road.
• The Lions rank second in the OUA in free throw percentage, shooting 78.3% in their first three games.
• York has done a good job defending the basket and forcing turnovers on defense so far this season as they are ranked second in the OUA in blocks per game (5) and sixth in steals per game (7.7)
• With a 1-2 record on the year, the Lions have averaged 71 points per game and allowed an average of 80 points per game.

 

Algoma

• Algoma opened the season with a 71-69 victory over the Lakehead Thunderwolves but have since dropped three straight games.
• The Thunderbirds have been busy beyond the arc this season, shooting an average of 30.8 three-point attempts per game which ranks third in the OUA. They've converted on 30.9% of their three-point attempts, good for eighth in the OUA.
• The Thunderbirds have yet to play at home this season as they open with six in a row on the road. They'll play their first home game next weekend against Laurentian, their first of six straight games at home.   

 
Guelph

• The Gryphons have struggled on the road over the last few seasons, going 1-11 last year, 2-8 the year before and they've opened this season with an 0-3 record.
• Guelph has been aggressive on the offensive glass in their first four games as they are first overall in the OUA with 18.5 offensive rebounds per game.
• The Gryphons also rank first in the OUA with 21.5 free throws made per game and 30.8 free throw attempts per game.

 
PLAYERS TO WATCH
 
York
 
G Chevon Brown – Leads the Lions and is ranked seventh in the OUA with 20.7 points per game, while also averaging 4.0 rebounds per game and 1.3 assists per game.
 
F Nicolas Duncan – After missing the first game of the season, the freshman forward made his Lions debut last weekend and scored a team-high 19 points in his first ever game against the Windsor Lancers.   
 
Algoma
 
G Nick Gehlen – Scored 20 points in 22 minutes in a loss to the Toronto Varsity Blues last weekend.
 
G Kris Rotterman – Rookie guard is averaging 11.3 points per game through the first three games of his OUA career.
 
Guelph
 
G Malcolm Glanville – Leads the Gryphons with 17.8 points per game this season. Also averaging 4.5 rebounds per game and 1.3 assists per game.  
 
F Banky Alade – The senior forward is leading the Gryphons in rebounding with 7.0 rebounds per game while also averaging 12.0 points per game.