Last week the Mustangs finished their OUA regular season with a split weekend, snagging a victory over the Laurier Golden Hawks followed by a loss against the Waterloo Warriors. With an overall record of 12-8, the Mustangs were able to hold on to their second place spot in the OUA West Division Standings and start their playoff run in the preliminary round on Wednesday night at Alumni Hall against the Laurier Golden Hawks.
 
The winner of Wednesday's contest will advance to the OUA Quarter-finals against the Ryerson Rams on Saturday evening at 8 p.m. at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto.
 
Wednesday's game marks the first time the Mustangs have played on home court in the OUA playoffs since 2010, when they fell to the Golden Hawks in an OUA Quarterfinal matchup.
 
Western enters the playoffs having gone 5-5 over the past 10 games, with one of those wins coming against Laurier on February 18, when the Mustangs cruised to a 76-48 win. The Mustangs also took the first contest between the two teams this season, although by a much closer 75-69 win back on January 14 in Waterloo.
 
Greg Morrow has topped the Western scoresheet for the majority of the season, ending the regular season with 21.8 points per game placing him fourth among all CIS players, and second in the OUA. Teammates Quinn Henderson and Anthony Spiridis follow Morrow on the Mustang offence with 11.4 and 11.1 points per game. The three players also lead the defence with Morrow grabbing 7.2 rebounds per game and Henderson and Spiridis averaging 1.3 steals per game.
 
The Mustangs regular season has been nothing but exciting, proving that they will be fighting for the win on Wednesday night to start their journey to the championship. Look out for the starting line up to set up the game for the Mustangs in their strong offence and rigorous defence.
 
Wednesday, February 25 vs. Laurier Golden Hawks - at 7 p.m. - Watch live on OUA.tv
 
After losing their final two regular season games to the two top teams of the OUA West Division Standings, Western and Windsor, the Golden Hawks hope to turn their luck around as the playoffs begin.
 
The Golden Hawk overall performance matches similarly to the Mustangs with success rates of 40.1% in field goals and 64.3% at the free throw line. With a 49.3% success rate on the perimeter, Luke Allin places fourth among all CIS long distance shooters. Allin has provided several baskets for the Golden Hawks from behind the arc, and the Mustangs will need to neutralize his outside shooting on Wednesday night.
 
Will Coulthard has been a popular name on the Golden Hawk scoreboard with 17.0 points per game, while teammate Kyrie Coleman is another key part of the offence, sinking 11.3 points per game. Coleman also lead the defence with 7.8 rebounds per game, with Coulthard's chipping in 1.7 steals per game.