WATERLOO, Ont – A 22-point first quarter put the Western Mustangs in front for the remainder of the game, with the purple and white taking a 65-46 win over the Waterloo Warriors on Wednesday night at the PAC Gymnasium.
 
The Mustangs record now moves to 5-7 putting the team into a tie with the Windsor Lancers for second place in the OUA West Division, two points behind the first place Laurier Golden Hawks. The Warriors occupy fifth place in the same standings with a record of 1-11.
 
Anthony Spiridis and Greg Morrow were both integral shooters for the Mustangs, scoring 22 and 20 points, respectively. Jedson Tavernier was next up on the scoresheet with 11 points, followed by eight from Peter Scholtes and four from Tom Filgiano. It was Filgiano that led the Mustangs efforts on the glass, grabbing seven rebounds in the win, with Morrow and Spiridis recording six rebounds apiece.
 
Dylan Philips registered a team-high 10 points for the Warriors, with veteran Jon Ravenhorst following with seven. Muhammad Anwar lead the defence with six rebounds, which were all defensive.
 
Despite giving the Warriors the first basket, it didn't take long for the Mustangs to gain control over the game. Once Morrow recorded the first point the Mustangs went on a 21-7 run throughout the remainder of the frame that included Western limiting the home side to a single basket in the final 4:26 of the quarter. After 10 minutes of play the Mustangs were in front 22-10.
 
The next ten minutes of play proved to be the Spiridis and Morrow show as they took turns throughout the frame sinking baskets, both contributing seven points each to account for all of the Mustangs 14 points. Although Spiridis and Morrow were able to find success from the floor, it was actually the Warriors who held the edge in the frame, outscoring Western 15-14 to cut the Mustangs lead to 36-25 heading into halftime.
 
Western once again took control of the game in the third quarter as midway through the frame they went on a 13-0 run increasing their lead a game-high 23 points. A Waterloo basket at the end of the quarter put an end to the Mustangs run, however the purple and white held a 54-33 lead after thirty minutes.
 
Defences on both sides picked up in the fourth, with the two teams combining for only 24 points, the lowest total of the night. Although the Warriors held a slight edge, outscoring the Mustangs 13-11, Western's early lead proved to be too much for Waterloo to overcome and the visitors walked away with a 65-46 victory.
 
The Mustangs are back in action at home against the Laurier Golden Hawks on Saturday, January 30 at Alumni Hall. Tip-off is at 3 p.m. and can be watched live on OUA.tv.