Lancers, true warriors against McMaster Marauders
By Chris Kerr
Sports Editor
January 20, 2010
 Coach Chris Oliver’s Lancer Men’s Basketball team earned another important victory on the road this past weekend as they defeated the McMaster Marauders 82-77 on Saturday afternoon in Hamilton.
With the victory that Oliver called “grind it out battle,” the Lancers move to 9-3 in conference play and remain in second place in the Ontario University Athletics West division, right behind Lakehead.
On Saturday, the Marauders took an early 15-7 lead, thanks in large part to forward Cam Michaud.
The second year forward scored 13 first quarter points, but by the end of the period, the visitors had come back to take a 22-20 lead.
Again in the second quarter of the game, the Marauders went on a run, opening up an 11 point advantage.
But again, the Lancers closed well, heading to the locker room at the half down only five at 41-36.
“There was no panic from our players,” said Oliver. “Despite getting down we were playing pretty well.”
In the third quarter of the hard fought match, it was only a long-range 3-pointer from Lancer forward Andre Smyth in the waning seconds of the quarter that gave the Lancers the lead at 62-61 with a period to play.
The Windsor Lancers maintained a six point margin with just over three minutes to play before Tyrell Vernon tallied 5 straight points, to bring the Marauders to within one, 73-72.
The home side went ahead again with just under a minute left, but Smyth again knocked down a clutch shot from downtown, restoring the Windsor Lancers lead they would never relinquish.
Andre Smyth took what the defence gave him and scored 19 points, with 10 rebounds, earning him a double-double. He also hit some big three-point shots to pace the Lancers.
Lancer forward Nigel Johnson-Tyghter added 15 points, while Lien Phillip and Monty Hardware came off the bench to score 12 and 10 points respectively.
“Nigel established an inside presence for us,” said Oliver, “But[after two fouls received by Johnson-Tyghter] it was Lien Phillip who picked up where Nigel left off.”
McMaster Maurauders’ Cam Michaud had a game high 23 points to lead all scorers.
“It was a solid team effort for us,” said Oliver, “And a much needed road win.”
The Lancers’ extended road trip continues as they have an early return engagement at Western on Wednesday and at Brock on Saturday.
Coach Oliver’s Lancer team needs to play two good games to get two road wins as they sit one game out of first place in the OUA West Division.
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