WATERLOO, Ont. - Second-year forward Julian Walker scored a game-high 28 points on an incredible 12/12 shooting display to help lead the Western men's basketball team to an 81-74 victory over the Waterloo Warriors on Wednesday evening.

With the win, the Mustangs improve to a 16-7 record and move into second place in the OUA West division standings, currently holding onto a first-round playoff bye after passing the Brock Badgers in the standings. The Warriors' loss drops their record to a disappointing 3-20 record on the season, as they remain at the bottom of the OUA West division.

Walker was supported by Marko Kovac, who chipped in 20 points, seven rebounds, and three steals in the victory.

Nedim Hodzic led the Warriors on the night, pouring in a team-high 26 points to carry the offence for Waterloo.

Hodzic was the main catalyst behind the Warriors' surprisingly quick start to the game, as Waterloo limited Western's scoring attack and led the way through the opening quarter of play. However, Walker's dominant 18 points in the first half alone carried the purple and white to a 43-37 lead heading into the half.

A strong start heading out of halftime led three Mustangs to score 10-plus points in the second half alone while the Warriors went an abysmal 4-19 from beyond the arc, as Western extended their lead heading into the final quarter of play. Waterloo would once again find their footing offensively and claw their way to a 21-15 fourth-quarter run, but the effort proved to be in vain as Western held off the comeback to walk away with the 81-74 win.

The Mustangs will be back in action this Saturday, February 16, where they will return home for a Senior Night matchup with the McMaster Marauders in Alumni Hall. The game is scheduled to tip off at 8:00 P.M. EST and fans can catch all the action live on OUA.tv.