LONDON, ON - The Western Mustangs faced TMU Bold on Saturday night at Alumni Hall, ultimately resulting in an eight-point loss for the home side.
TMU posed a tense challenge for the Mustangs, as they opened the game pulling ahead by five over Western, going 9-4 in the first minutes.
The Mustangs did manage to hold their opponent to a narrow gap. TMU restricted Western constantly, increasing tensions, and as the first quarter came to a close, the score read 26-15 in favour of the visiting side.
The Mustangs closed the gap in the second quarter, matching the Bold's scoring in the opening minutes. Western, however, faced challenges sinking shots under TMU's heavy defensive pressure.
TMU continued their aggressive play, positioning defenders to beat the Mustangs on the transition. While Western was doing a better job of betting between their player and the basket to stop shots,
the quarter concluded with TMU maintaining a lead of 57-36.
Western started the quarter explosively, frustrating the Bold with an overpowering display on both ends of the court.
A 13-2 run from the Mustangs narrowed the scoring deficit from the previous quarter.
The Mustangs broke through the Bold's defense, allowing them to charge down the court, and set up more efficient scoring plays.
Defensive pressure from Western caused turnovers against TMU, giving the Mustangs needed extended time with possession.
The double-digit deficit was reduced to within a couple of possessions in the opening minutes by Western through smart plays and improved communication, when a three-point play from Matteo Zagar brought the Mustangs within four points.
"The biggest adjustment was just within ourselves, our energy... we really had a lot left on the table in the first half and I think we all realised that," said Zagar. "We're playing one of the best teams in the country and we just didn't show up in the first half and you can't expect to win a game when you're not there for all 40 minutes."
Despite Western's improved performance in the third, TMU managed to extend their lead to 77-61 by the quarter's end.
Despite a 20-point margin with six minutes remaining, the Mustangs continued to play with tenacity and grit.
"We have to get better and we have to build some mental toughness and be able to play in games like this," said Brad Campbell, the Mustangs' Head Coach. "We played a little bit harder [in the second half] and kind of woke up and had a bit better effort... we cut it to 7 a few times, we just couldn't deal with the defensive pressure."
Although they were trailing through the quarter, the Mustangs persisted, putting their all out there to try bridge the gap.
As the game came to an end, the Bold ultimately claimed the win, at 100-92.
The Mustangs will be on the road next weekend as they face the Nipissing Lakers at 8 pm. Fans can tune in to watch live and cheer on the Mustangs at OUA.tv.
