SUDBURY, Ont. - A 25-point performance by Kadre Gray propelled the Laurentian Voyageurs to a 77-73 victory over the Mustangs on Friday night at the Ben Avery Gym.

This marks the second loss for the Mustangs after they were defeated in their season opener by the Guelph Gryphons, while the Voyageurs open their season with their victory on home court.

Four Mustangs recorded double digits in the contest, with Eriq Jenkins and Cam Morris topping the roster with 15 points apiece. Omar Shiddo and Ian Smart followed close behind as each contributed 10 points. Jenkins not only led the Mustangs in scoring, but he also hauled in the most rebounds for Western with seven.

The Voyageurs were led by Gray, who's 25 points topped the scoresheet while teammate Josis Thomas was next up with 18 points for the home side. Nelson Yengue led all players with 16 rebounds, while also adding six points.

Laurentian found significant success from the free throw line on Friday night, recording 22 points and connecting on 81.5% of their attempts. Western connected on 57.1% of their shots from the line, going 8-14 on the night.

The Mustangs started off strong with a 13-5 run to take an early lead. Jenkins led the way for the Mustangs in the opening 10 minutes, scoring eight of Western's 16 points to help give Western a five-point lead at the end of the first.

Western only added to that lead in the second frame, going up by 16 points with a little over two minutes remaining in the quarter, before ending the half up 42-28, thanks in part to eight points from Smart.

The Voyageurs started to connect with their plays in the third, with Thomas leading the way, including sinking two shots from the three-point line which helped contribute 10 points for the home team in the quarter. Laurentian edged out the Mustangs 24-20 in the frame, cutting Western's lead to 10 points entering the final 10 minutes.

Laurentian chipped away at Western's lead throughout the fourth, outscoring the Mustangs 25-11, with 20 of those points coming from Gray. With the game tied at 73-73 in the final minute, Gray recorded the final four points of the game, all on free throws, to give the Voyageurs a 77-73 win.  

The Mustangs face the Nipissing Lakers in their second game up north on Saturday, November 12 at the Robert J. Surtees Student Athletic Centre. Tip-off is at 8:00p.m. and can be watched live on OUA.tv