Box Score SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – The Men's basketball team defeated the Algoma Thunderbirds 116-67 for their second time in this weekend's doubleheader. Following a 90-59 win on Friday evening, the Mustangs continued their win streak, bringing their regular season record to 4-0 with Algoma's falling to 1-1.
The first quarter of the match lacked in intensity and would set the pace for the remainder of the game as the Mustangs found space in the Thunderbirds' half of the court with ease. The Purple and White were given several opportunities at foul shots while providing none for the Thunderbirds, maintaining possession of the ball as Shiddo, Walker, and Jenkins all put points on the board. Jenkins and Farkic each put up three-pointers, Palma landed two with his free-throws, and Sharma closed the first quarter with an additional two. The Mustangs claimed a big lead as they headed into the second quarter with a score of 26-10.
Peter Wetuvanga of the Red and White opened up the second quarter with two points for the Thunderbirds, followed up with an additional layup shortly thereafter. Shiddo hit a three-pointer from the corner, and while the Thunderbirds succeeded in pulling the ball out of their end, they continued to struggle in landing points. The Mustangs persisted in dropping threes with baskets coming from Shiddo, Palma, Jenkins, and Sharma. What little space the Thunderbirds could find led more often to missed rebounds than it did to two-point layups. While Algoma's Bellony and Gehlen each managed to find purchase, it wasn't enough as Western continued to increase their lead. Up from 26 points to 54, the Mustangs closed the first half of the game with a thirty-point lead with the Thunderbirds sitting at 24.
The third quarter saw improvement amongst the Thunderbirds' defensive skills as the Mustangs' score made little movement in the first half of the quarter. Wetuvanga was able to put up two more free-throws as Algoma worked harder to shut down the Mustangs' attempts. Souber Musse and Milan Acimovic would go on to score the Thunderbirds' first three-pointers of the game. The match proved to be one of threes as Algoma struggled to hit the basket while Western's Palma put up two more three-pointers, the Mustangs' score climbing once more within the last two minutes of the quarter. Their lead demonstrating a commanding growth, the Mustangs walked off the court at the end of the third with an 82-38 lead.
The fourth quarter witnessed a little more excitement than the previous three as new faces made an appearance on the court and scoreboard. While Shiddo put up another 6 points, first-year Peyton Campbell followed up with two three-pointers from the corner. The Red and White put on a smooth performance from Vincent Falaradeau and Ylane Kouassi as Falaradeau assisted Kouassi in two points, only for Kouassi to then assist Falardeau in his next attempt at three. The last minute of play saw three points from Western's Sharma and a quick retaliation from Acimovic with his second three-pointer of the game. In spite of the Thunderbirds' evident improvement, the match still closed with the wide margin of 116-67 for the 'Stangs.
The Mustang's will return to the court on Friday, November 8
th, in Sudbury, Ontario, as they face off against the Laurentian University Voyageurs in their first meet of the season. The game is scheduled to begin at 8:00 P.M. EST.
