The Mustangs will continue their seven game homestand this weekend with a pair of games against the Lakehead Thunderwolves following their most recent win over the Laurier Golden Hawks this past Friday evening in Alumni Hall.

The Mustangs improved to a 6-6 record on the season with their win over the Golden Hawks, and they remain in second place in the OUA West Division, continuing to chase the first place Brock Badgers.

Friday evening saw Western enter Alumni Hall looking to begin the new year on a high note with a win over Laurier. It was a slow first half for the purple and white, as the Mustangs looked a step behind the ball movement of the Golden Hawks through the first two frames. An incredible 22 second-half points from Laurier's Tevaun Kokko would keep the Golden Hawks in the game, but Western's Jedson Tavernier came up clutch at the final buzzer to seal the game with a game-winning layup.

Western vs. Lakehead– Friday, January 12 at 8:00 p.m. - Watch live on OUA.tv

The Mustangs will be entering their matchup against the Thunderwolves on Friday hoping to separate themselves from the rest of the division with a win.

In their previous matchup against Lakehead last season, Western walked away with a slim 53-51 victory in the team's first win of the season. Western's #Nikola Farkic had himself a night in the last meeting between the two teams, earning himself 15 points, 2 steals, and a perfect 3-3 shooting from beyond the arc.

Following their last game against the Golden Hawks, head coach Brad Campbell highlighted the importance of Farkic looking to score the basketball, as the team will no doubt be hoping for a similar performance this season against the Thunderwolves.

Lakehead has struggled to find their footing so far this season, as the team currently holds a 1-11 record midway through the year as they sit at the bottom of the OUA West standings. Offence has been a particular weakness for the Thunderwolves this season, which should be a welcome sight for a Mustang defence which has began to solidify its identity on the defensive end of the floor. Lakehead currently averages just 66.7 points per game on a 35.7 field goal percentage. The defence has been slightly better for the Thunderwolves this season, holding opponents to a respectable 43.6 field goal percentage, but still allowing 83.3 points per contest.

The Thunderwolves will be led by veteran guards Nick Burke and Mor Menashe, who are averaging 12.5 and 12.3 points per game, respectively. Menashe also leads the team in rebounding with six per game while Burke leads the team in assists with 3.3 per contest.