London, ON – The Mustangs exercised some playoff demons from recent years with an 88-82 win over Laurentian on Saturday afternoon.
Guard Omar Shiddo poured in 41 points for the Mustangs in the win.
"What a time to get it, a time when we needed it the most against a top 10 team," said Shiddo "This what we worked for the whole year, love the moment, we'll enjoy it but we're not done yet."
The Mustangs opened the game with a pair of three-pointers from Eriq Jenkins & Omar Shiddo to take an early 6-0 lead. Laurentian would retaliate with a run of their own and eventually take a six-point lead of their own at 18-12 with just over three minutes remaining in the quarter. Shiddo would then go to work and score the next eight Mustangs points to put the Mustangs back into the lead at 22-20 with just over a minute of the clock and would keep the lead at 24-22 to end the frame.
Laurentian took charge in the 2nd quarter outscoring the Mustangs 25-18 and held a 47-42 lead going into half-time. Omar Shiddo continued to lead the Western offence with 20 points in the first half alone while Aaron Tennant had 10 points and 4 rebounds.
The Mustangs came out with early pressure inn the third quarter and got a clutch three-pointer from Julian Walker to pull the Mustangs to within three and then evened the game at 48-48.
Western went on an 8-0 run ahead of the mid-way point of the fourth quarter and jumped out to a 74-66 lead which included an acrobatic lay-up from Shiddo.
Laurentian would put up a late fight but it wasn't enough as the Mustangs would hold on to win and advance to the Wilson Cup semi-final.
With the win, the Mustangs advance past their first playoff game for the first time in several years, something that isn't lost on everyone involved.
"We've lost in the quarterfinals the last two years. This (Laurentian) was the best team we've faced in the last three years of playoffs, it just shows that we've grown in that time," said Shiddo
Mustangs Head Coach Brad Campbell had some high praise for Shiddo's performance
"He had the best game he has ever played," said Campbell "He's a clutch player, he's our closer and at the biggest time of the season he had his biggest game."
The crowd in Alumni Hall was electric all day long and Shiddo says it was noticeable in the way the Mustangs responded.
"Usually we are on the road for these games and don't get that kind of crowds noise, it was awesome to get some much support out there today, shout out to all my people supporting me here today."
The semi-final game will be on Wednesday, Stay tuned to westernmustangs.ca for more details on the time, location and opponent.
