The York University Lions men's basketball team faced off the Guelph Gryphons Friday night in their final home game of the 2025-26 season. With no graduating players on this young team, the Lions were looking to finish the home portion of the schedule on a high note as they build toward next season. The Gryphons, sitting at 11-10 on the season, entered the final weekend in a battle for playoff positioning as they try to lock down a home playoff game.
Jeremiah Kwarteng was active early for the Lions, dropping a three and a layup on two straight possessions as the Lions opened up a 9-4 lead. The Gryphons recovered to claim a 14-11 advantage off a 10-2 run. However, a Kevin Okeke and-one and another Kwarteng bucket tied it back up at 16-16 for the Lions, and a pair of free throws from LaDanian James allowed them to finish the quarter up 18-16.
The visitors opened the second on a 7-2 spurt, but buckets from Jordan Nelson and Malakai Ayres-Olson tied it back up midway through the quarter at 25-25. However, a huge surge from the Gryphons had Guelph up double digits, 38-29, forcing a Lions timeout. the Lions went to the locker room down 42-32.
A slam dunk, a three and a layup on three straight trips from Nelson propelled the Lions offence early in the third. Kwarteng added four three throws, and Nathan Carr added a three to suddenly swing the momentum the Lions way, cutting the deficit to three, 51-48 and forcing a Gryphons timeout. Another Nelson three tied it at 53-53, and the Lions outscored Guelph 27-19 in the quarter and, despite a buzzer-beating two from Gueloh's Mazen Yagubi, the Lions trailed 61-59 after three.
Guelph's offence came alive in the final frame, dropping two quick threes and going on an 11-5 run to force a Lions timeout. Down 81-71 with under three minutes left, the Lions went on a 6-0 run to make it a two-possession game and get within four at 81-77 with a minute to go. However, despite a late run, the comeback came up just short, as York dropping its final home game of the season 82-78.
LOOKING AHEAD:
The Lions will wrap up the season Saturday night in Waterloo against the Laurier Golden Hawks. Tipoff is set for 8:00 pm, with coverage on OUA TV.
