London, ON - Western came out with rhythm and purpose in the win over Guelph Saturday.

"We know Guelph is a good team, our guys were ready to play as it was a big game. We got off to a good start despite fluctuations and kept our momentum." said Mustangs Head Coach Brad Campbell.

Lucas Sheets opened the night by slicing through the lane for a smooth layup, and the crowd instantly came alive. Matteo Zagar followed with a strong finish at the rim, then the offense began to hum. Imran Armstrong stepped calmly to the line and sank two free throws, steadying the flow. Milan John took control of the pace, finding open teammates and guiding the attack with patience and confidence. 

Sheets returned to the rim for another layup off a crisp feed from Milan, and Zagar soon lifted the gym with a clean three that felt effortless. Emmanuel Akot checked in and knocked down a soft jumper that slid through the net with ease. Cotie fought for rebounds, Urquhart slipped through the defense for quick cuts, and the team's energy filled the building. In the final minute, Milan found Urquhart again for a quick inside pass before Isaiah Young finished a beautiful layup that sent Alumni Hall roaring. The quarter ended twenty eight to fifteen, the crowd standing and Western owning the rhythm. 

The Mustangs carried the same energy into the second. Zagar opened with a calm layup from Akot's pass, then Urquhart drove through traffic and threw down a powerful dunk through contact. The sound of the crowd echoed across the court as he completed the three point play. Imran directed every possession with perfect timing, his passes cutting through defenders like a conductor guiding an orchestra. 

Akot hit a steady midrange shot. Zagar continued to dominate the paint, and when Milan came back in, the ball began to move even faster. Western's defense was relentless. Cotie and Sheets controlled the boards, and Young's pressure on the perimeter forced Guelph into bad shots. Every time the Gryphons tried to build momentum, Western crushed it with patience and precision. 

Zagar drew double teams and kept feeding the open man. Owen Urquhart became a spark, making smart cuts and clean finishes that brought the bench to its feet. As the clock ticked toward halftime, Zagar finished again under the rim from Milan's pass. Western walked off up forty seven to thirty five, with the crowd standing proud and the team fully in command. 

Western came out of halftime composed and sharp. Milan opened the quarter with a confident drive and finish, then Sheets cut through the lane twice for quick layups off perfect feeds. Zagar took over the boards, controlling every rebound, dishing out passes, and finishing through contact like a player completely in his element. Imran's control of the floor became the quiet heartbeat of the team, his passes landing perfectly in stride. Akot drove through the lane and scored again as Western's energy grew stronger. Sheets added another layup from a baseline cut. Cotie raced down the court for a fast break block that sent the fans erupting into cheers. Guelph tried to fight back, but Western met them with confidence and calm precision. Every response was immediate and clean. Milan hit a floater, Zagar powered inside for another finish, and Pryce added a free throw that helped Western hold their ground. 

As the quarter ended, the Mustangs rhythm was steady, their chemistry clear, and their belief unshaken. 

As the game progressed into the fourth quarter Guelph threw everything they had left but the truth showed on their faces. Every time Matteo Zagar touched the ball, the tension deepened. You could see the fear in their eyes, the quiet panic in each defensive switch, and the small step backward when he caught it near the arc. Western sensed it and turned that fear into power. Akot rose on the wing and dropped a smooth three that sent a wave through the crowd. Cotie raced back and swatted away a layup with pure force. Milan glided through the lane for a floating finish that filled the gym with noise. 

Imran Armstrong became something else entirely. Every time he went up for a layup, he seemed to stay suspended in the air for a full second, hanging between gravity and grace. Guelph froze each time, watching in disbelief as he floated above them before softly placing the ball off the glass. It felt like poetry in motion, and it broke their composure. 

Then came the defining moment. Zagar trailed the break, caught the ball perfectly, and fired a deep three that hung in the air before falling pure and straight through. The crowd erupted and Guelph's shoulders sank. They were no longer playing to win. They were playing not to face him again. Urquhart dropped a bounce pass to Akot for another layup. Imran ran the clock with control. And Zagar sealed the night with one last finish through contact as the crowd stood to its feet. 

When the final buzzer sounded, Western stood united at 93-79. 

"Just staying in attack mode, had a couple of off nights so stayed patience and just scored the ball." said Zagar of his performance on the night.

KEY STATS
Matteo Zagar - 30 points 15 rebounds 5 assists 
Milan John - 14 points 7 assists 
Imran Armstrong - 9 assists 4 rebounds 5 points 
Emmanuel Akot - 14 points 6 rebounds 
Tye Cotie - 8 points 5 rebounds 3 blocks