Ottawa, ON – The Mustangs 2019-20 season came to an end on Sunday afternoon, finishing as the #4 team in the country as they fell 99-82 to the UBC Thunderbirds in the U SPORTS National Championship bronze medal game.
Even though they weren't able to come away with a medal, Head Coach Brad Campbell applauds his players for what he feels is one of the most successful seasons in the history of the program.
"This group battled adversity, not a lot of people believed in this group but we did and to be able to punch a ticket to the national championship and win a game and be one of the final four in the country is an amazing accomplishment."
The Mustangs came out and kept pace with the Thunderbirds as Nik Farkic led the way for the Mustangs with a pair of three-pointers but the Western trailed 24-17 after the 1st quarter.
The Mustangs looked to sort things out in the 2nd quarter as they started connecting from beyond the arc with more consistency. Omar Shiddo dropped three of them in the quarter, while Farkic added another pair and led the Mustangs charge to a 45-41 lead at half time.
The Thunderbirds came out in the second half with a firm push, turning the tables on the Mustangs and dropping shots from long distance and opening up a lead of nine with just over three minutes left in the quarter. UBC would keep the pressure up outscoring the Western 34-18 in the quarter and take a 75-63 into the final frame.
"We gave up way too many points in the second half, especially the third quarter," said Campbell "There was sort of a change in momentum in there that kind of deflated us and that's just the way it goes sometimes."
The Mustangs would try to mount a comeback in the 4th quarter but couldn't get any sustained pressure going as they shot 1 for 15 in the second half to drop the game 99-82.
Omar Shiddo led the way for the Mustangs on their offence as he's done several times this season with 29 points, Ukasha Khan came off the bench and added 17 points of his own.
"We knew Julian (Walker) wasn't feeling too good so a lot of us knew we needed to step up," said Khan "I just felt like I could fill that role, so I'm always ready and the guys believe in me so I was happy to step in and do what I needed to do to help out."
This was the last game in the Mustangs career for Eriq Jenkins and Nik Farkic, Jenkins had 7 points and was fighting a lower-body injury all game while Farkic had 12 points and 9 assists in the game. Campbell says their leadership and influence will be missed but not forgotten.
"I couldn't be prouder of those two guys, we started off a little grim with some playoff disappointment along the way but to be able to experience the national championship in their last year and statistically have the their best seasons in their last year was amazing."
Even though the Mustangs season comes to an end, there is reason to be proud of being the #4 team out of 49 teams.
"This is an opportunity (making a national championship) that not everyone gets and we have to cherish the chance to play here and show the younger guys going forward what it takes to hopefully get back here next year," said Khan.
