After back-to-back wins against Algoma last weekend, the Western Mustangs will take that momentum into their games this week when they take on the Waterloo Wariors and Laurier Golden Hawks.
The Mustangs currently sit in second place of the OUA West with a 5-11 record sitting behind Laurier and Windsor who sit in first place with 16 points, apiece.
Two first-year Mustangs lead the way in scoring with Omar Shiddo recording 14.1 points per game and Eriq Jenkins contributing an average 12.4 points per game.
Shiddo recorded a combined 36 points against Algoma while Cam Morris registered 25 points against the Thunderbirds, recording an average 8.8 points per game and a team-high 46.0% from the three-point line.
Jenkins also tops the list with 5.7 rebounds, while Nikola Farkic grabbing 4.4 rebounds. Four other Mustangs record over 3.0 rebounds per game, while the team records an overall average of 31.1 rebounds a game.
Western vs. Waterloo - Wednesday, February 8 at 8 p.m. - Tune in live on OUA.tv and CHRW Radio
Currently holding a 4-12 record, the Warriors are coming off a split week last week with a loss against Brock followed by a victory against the McMaster Marauders.
Wednesday's matchup will be the second of the season between the Warriors and Mustangs, with Waterloo taking the first contest 82-81 back in November on their home court.
Nedim Hodzic is the team's top scoring, averaging 16.5 points, while Jon Ravenhorst is next up with 11.6 points per game. The Mustangs will also need to be on the look out for veteran Mike Pereira and his 9.6 points per game, along with guards Justin Hardy and Ben Davis, who contribute an average of 9.2 and 9.1 points per game, respectively.
Pereira also leads his team on the glass, grabbing 9.8 rebounds per contest, with Hodzi close behind with 8.4 per game.
Wednesday's battle could come down to the Mustangs shooting versus the Warriors rebounding. Western ranks in the top 10 in both field goal and three point percentage, while Waterloo sits in the bottom five, however it's the reverse in terms of rebounding. The Warriors are eighth in rebounding with 39.3 per game, while the Mustangs are 16th, with an average of 31.1 per outing. If the purple and white can control the boards and hit their shots they'll be well on their way to avenging that November loss in Waterloo.
Western at Laurier - Saturday, February 11 at 3 p.m. - Watch live on OUA.tv
The last time the Mustangs and Golden Hawks met on the court it was in an absolute thriller that needed double overtime to decide a winner. Unfortunately for Western it was Laurier who left Alumni Hall with the win, defeating the Mustangs 90-84, a loss that the Mustangs hope to remedy this weekend.
In order to do that they'll need to limit the Golden Hawks leading scorer, guard Tevaun Kokko and his 18.8 points per game. While Kokko tops the Laurier scoresheet, veterans Matt Chesson and Vlad Matovic also average double digits, with 11.2 and 10.6 points per game respectively.
Matovic is also a key figure in the team's rebounding efforts, leading the way with 7.1 per game, while Chesson records an average 6.4 off the glass. Overall, the Golden Hawks grab 40.6 rebounds, good for fourth in the OUA, something they'll be looking to take advantage of this weekend as they trail the Mustangs in both field goal and three point percentage.
