Box Score WATERLOO, Ont. ­– After their upset victory against the conference leading Windsor Lancers on Wednesday night, the Mustangs men’s basketball team was looking to continue their win streak. It’s been a less than stellar year for the young squad, but they hoped to end their season on a high note when they travelled to Waterloo to take on the Laurier Golden Hawks.
 
Despite competing for the entire match, the Mustangs fell to the Golden Hawks 102-84.
 
The Mustangs were led by Peter Scholtes who scored 16 points for the Mustangs while Jermaine Bernard contributed 11 points, nine rebounds and four assists. For the Golden Hawks, Maxwell Allin led the way, scoring a game high 30 points while also registering 10 rebounds and 12 assists for a triple-double.
 
The Golden Hawks came out strong from the opening tip-off and were able to gain a leg up on the Mustangs early. By the end of the first quarter the Golden Hawks were up 24-16.
 
However, the Mustangs showed their resiliency, continuing to pressure the Golden Hawks and even outscored their opponents in the second quarter. However, after the first half Western still trailed 47-40.
 
The Golden Hawks came out ready to secure the win in the second half and outscored the Mustangs in both the third and fourth quarter. By the end, the Mustangs were just too far behind and unable to muster another upset victory, losing 102-84.
 
With the Mustangs failing to qualify for the OUA playoffs, this loss marks the end of the season for the men’s team.
 
It’s no secret that the Mustangs struggled this year, only registering three wins. However, with much of their team composed of first and second year players, a season like this provides ample opportunity to learn and grow as both a team and player. With the recent announcement that local standout Cam Morris has agreed to play for Western next year, look for the team to continue to grow into a competitive squad in the OUA for years to come.