Western vs Algoma February 13 80-54

The Western men's team hosted senior night for Matteo Zagar, and Alumni Hall looked different before the game even tipped. Everybody came into the stadium wearing custom Zagar tee shirts, showing their respect for their beloved senior. It felt less like a regular season finale and more like a tribute to five years of grit on the glass.

Western 17-5 looked to close their season off strong against Algoma 2-19, but the opening minutes were anything but comfortable.

When Zagar walked out for recognition, the ovation rolled through the building. He admitted afterward that it still had not fully sunk in.

"Honestly, it has not really hit me yet fully," said Zagar. "I was just more focussed on the game, but having the crowd give me a standing ovation and my team all there with me, my family, my friends, there was definitely some butterflies and some high emotions rising there. Thankfully, no tears yet."

He kept the tears away. He did not keep anything else in reserve.

First quarter

Algoma held their ground.

Western struggled to find rhythm early and Algoma matched every push. The Thunderbirds battled inside and kept the game tight possession by possession. After ten minutes, it was tied 13-13. Senior night energy was high, but the game itself was still hanging in the balance.

Second quarter

Algoma could feel the game slipping away from them in the second quarter. They knew they could only hold on to the lead for a split second. Western began to control the glass and stack extra possessions. Emmanuel Akot attacked downhill. Owen Urquhart earned trips to the line. The pace shifted.

The Mustangs slowly created separation and carried a 35-27 lead into the half. The work inside was starting to show.

Third quarter

Western came out sharper.

A big three from Lucas Sheets gave the building life. A great sequence from Urquhart inside stretched the lead further and forced Algoma into another timeout with Western up 12. The defense tightened, rebounds were secured cleanly, and the Mustangs looked composed.

By the end of the quarter Western led 57-39, and the momentum felt fully purple.

Fourth quarter

Algoma was not backing out. They came out strong in the fourth, trying to trim the margin and make it uncomfortable. But Western did not let them breathe.

Lucas Sheets threw down a huge dunk that lifted the building and pushed the Mustangs up 20. Urquhart continued to convert at the line. Zagar kept battling on the glass despite being banged up.

"Oh, 100%," Zagar said when asked if he wanted to squeeze every last bit out of the night. "Although I am banged up right now physically, I just had to leave it all out there. I have gotten my name doing it the way I have done it the last five years, fighting on the glass and physically imposing as much as I can. That is what I did tonight."

That is exactly what he did.

Western closed it out 80-54, finishing the regular season 17-5 and sending their senior off at Alumni Hall the right way.

After the final horn, Head Coach Brad Campbell reflected on what Zagar has meant to the culture.

"Mateo has been nothing but an exemplary student athlete in our program," said Campbell. "He is an engineering student dealing with a crazy schedule, and he just leads by example. He plays hard, he brings it every day, and it has an infectious approach on our team. Our guys work harder because he brings that example every day."

With the regular season complete, Western now turns its focus to playoff basketball as they head into the OUA semi finals against U of T at Alumni Hall.

"It gets harder," said Campbell. "If you have a rough stretch for a few minutes, that could be your season. We need to be super sharp, laser focussed. But we have a locker room full of guys that believe and are all in. We like our chances."

Senior night was emotional.
It was physical.
And it ended the right way.

With a win.

Western Game Leaders

Emmanuel Akot 13 pts 7 reb 2 stl
Owen Urquhart 12 pts 5 reb 3 ast 4 blk 1 stl
Milan John 11 pts 4 reb 4 ast 4 stl
Matteo Zagar 10 pts 12 reb 4 ast
Lucas Sheets 9 pts 8 reb 1 ast 1 blk 3 stl