The York University Lions men's basketball team were hosted by the Lakehead Thunderwolves Friday night in Thunder Bay in the first of a two-game weekend set up North, a clash between two teams looking to get above .500 on the young season.
The Thunderwolves broke out to the lead early off a 12-6 run, fueled by Harold Santacruz's nine first-quarter points. However, the Lions were able to storm back by spreading the ball around, as six different players, none with more than four points, helped York claim a 17-16 lead at the end of the quarter. The Lions were agressive inside early, and snatched the momentum right back going into the second.
A continuation of back-and-forth basketball saw neither team lead by more than three points in the second until the final minute of the frame. Santacruz remained hot with nine more points in the quarter, while teammate Marcos Alonso Hernandez dropped a pair of threes. On the Lions side, Gilian Mavoungou and Jordan Nelson stepped up with timely buckets on the interior to keep their team in it on a night where York went just 4-for-25 from downtown. The Thunderwolves led by a score of 40-32 at the end of the first half.
The Lions held up in the third, but struggled to sustain offence, as Lakehead was able to maintain a double-digit lead for most of the quarter. However, a strong push from the York offence in the last two minutes of the quarter, capped by a three from Mavoungou kept the deficit to just six, 63-57. Mavoungou and Nelson continued to spark the Lions, as the only two players in double digit points at the end of three, due to their continued work finishing at the basket.
After Lakehead increased their lead to nine early in the fourth, he Lions cut the deficit to three after another triple from Mavoungou, as the Thunderwolves began to stall out offensively with just over four minutes left. However, out of a timeout, Lakehead responded and extended the advantage back to five with just under two minutes to play. A high-flying layup and a mid-range shot from Nelson, however, brought York back to within one with a minute left, 72-71. After a Thundervwolve free throw to make it a two-point game, the Lions found themselves down two with one last possession left and seven seconds on the clock. However, Nelson wasn't able to get a shot off in time, and York took a hard-fought 73-71 loss.
LOOKING AHEAD:
The Lions will look to split the series against Lakehead in a rematch tomorrow night on Saturday, November 8th. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:00pm, with coverage on OUA TV.
