Men's basketball splits weekend at home against Lakehead
By Michal Tellos
News Editor
February 3, 2010
 The men’s Lancers basketball team split their weekend at home against the Lakehead Thunderwolves, losing in overtime 89-87 on Friday, but blowing them out 87-65 on Saturday.
Both games were in front of a packed and rowdy St. Denis Centre crowd, and the two teams were highly physical and competitive.
“They’re a great basketball team and when you get two good teams together they’re going to compete and play hard,” said head coach Chris Oliver.
The difference between the two games was, according to Oliver, consistent defensive play.
“At the end of the day, [Friday] night we just didn’t get the stops when we needed them. It was an offensive game. [Saturday] I thought we did a much better job making it a defensive game,” he said, adding that both games were offensively strong, and that the team just needs to focus on defensive fundamentals.
Oliver also noted that the second outing probably wasn’t Lakehead’s best effort, while the Lancers kept up their offensive pressure but maintained defensive play as well.
The men still sit second to Lakehead in the OUA west by one game, and ninth overall in the country.
The down the stretch win is extremely important.
“In terms of standings it’s really important. We stay one behind, and at the end of the day we got a tough schedule and they got a tough schedule and I’m pretty sure that in this league everyone is going to drop a few more games. It’s really important to stay close,” said Oliver.
Leading the Lancers on both nights was veteran Isaac Kuon, who had 26 points on Friday, and 24 points on Saturday.
Defensively, the men were led by Andre Smyth, who had nine rebounds in the first game and 10 in the second, where he recorded a double-double.
Nigel Johnson-Tyghter also pitched in greatly on both ends of the court.
Like the women’s Lakehead team, the men also shot often from behind the three-point line, and although the Lancers had trouble stopping Jamie Searle on Friday.
Searle netted 29 total points, 21 of which were from behind the arc.
However, Oliver usually prefers opposing teams to play a long-range game.
“Philosophically, we want teams to play out there. Percentages obviously go down as teams play farther from the rim, and we want to play that kind of defense. In terms of our philosophy that’s what it is and sometimes you get beat when someone goes off. Unfortunately we just didn’t do a great job on Jamie Searle [Friday] night,” he said.
The men will now face the Laurier Golden Hawks on Wednesday, Feb. 3, at 8 p.m. in the St. Denis Centre.
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