As the OUA regular season draws closer, the Gryphons men’s basketball team is losing steam. Friday’s matchup against the Memorial Sea-Hawks as well as Saturday’s competition against the Mercyhurst Lakers both resulted in losses for the Gryphons, despite strong efforts from the team.
Friday’s opening quarter saw a good offensive start, with Guelph shooting 58.8 per cent and finding an equal match in their opponents. In the second quarter, the Gryphons defence held off the Sea-Hawks, keeping them to 32.4 per cent from the field. At the half, Guelph led 43-26 with only seven points from Memorial in the quarter.
The third quarter turned things around for the Gryphons, with the Sea-Hawks taking a quick lead over only five minutes. Memorial outscored Guelph 32-11 in the third quarter, but the Gryphons were able to rein things in after Daniel Dooley scored seven points.
The final quarter was an intense one, coming right down to the final seconds of the game. The Gryphons were down 78-77 and only needed one basket to bring them to victory with final possession in their hands. Third-year guard Jonathan Wallace took the shot and after a tantalizing hover on the rim, the ball fell out into the hands of Memorial to clinch the victory for the Sea-Hawks.
On Saturday, the game got off to a physical start with both the Gryphons and the Lakers’ defensive lines playing a tough game. The strong defence proved to be difficult for either team’s offensive line to overcome, forcing turnovers and difficult shots.
In the second quarter, the Lakers began to hit their stride and built up a nine-point lead while the Gryphons trailed with only six points in the quarter. As an NCAA Division II team, the Lakers know how to play a tough defensive game that proved difficult for the Gryphons to overcome.
The Gryphons scored 53 points in the game, led by fourth-year Ahmed Haroon and third-year Taylor Boers with 11 points each. Despite the best efforts of all team members, Guelph lost the game with a final score of 70-53.
Last year, the Gryphons finished the season in third place in their division, with a season record of 8-11. They were eliminated from the OUA playoffs last February with a 69-48 loss to Lakehead. This year, the Gryphons will open their season with a rematch against the Thunderwolves.
After the weekend, the Gryphons preseason record sits at 2-5. They will play two more games before the OUA regular season kicks off on Nov. 6.