Lancers open 2026 with loss at No. 3 Western

The University of Windsor Lancers men's basketball team suffered a 92–70 road loss to the Western Mustangs on Wednesday (Jan. 7) night at Alumni Hall in London, Ont. 

GAME FLOW
Western set the tone early, opening the game with a strong first quarter and taking a 28–19 lead after ten minutes of play. The No. 3 nationally ranked Mustangs continued to build separation in the second quarter, outscoring Windsor 35–17 to take a 63–36 advantage into halftime. Windsor competed in the second half, holding pace with Western in the third quarter before finishing strong in the fourth, outscoring the Mustangs 20–6 in the final frame, but the early deficit proved too much to overcome. 

Shooting efficiency was the key factor in the contest, as Western shot 52.9% from the field compared to 31.5% for the Lancers. The Mustangs also connected on 12 three-pointers, while Windsor finished 9-for-32 from beyond the arc. Western's ball movement and defensive pressure made a difference, as they recorded 31 assists and forced 20 Windsor turnovers on the night. 

STATS
Yohann Sam led the Lancers with 16 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, knocking down four shots from long range. Emanuel Otong added an efficient 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting, along with six rebounds and three assists. Luke Grace contributed 13 points and seven rebounds, while Windsor finished with 23 team assists in a balanced offensive effort.

For Western, Milan John paced the Mustangs with 20 points and six assists, while Emmanuel Akot added 16 points on four made three-pointers. Lucas Sheets chipped in with 15 points, and Matteo Zagar rounded out the effort with 12 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists.

UP NEXT
With the loss, the Lancers move to 6–6 on the season while the Mustangs improve to 11–1. Windsor will look to bounce back as they continue OUA regular season action in their next scheduled matchup on the road in Guelph against the Gryphons. Tip-off on Saturday, January 10 is scheduled for Friday 8 p.m. and can be streamed live on oua.tv.