GUELPH, ON - With just three weeks remaining in the regular season schedule, the Gryphons men's basketball team is in the middle of a fight for a playoff spot. While it's too early to be throwing around the term must-win, there is no question that Friday night's home matchup with Algoma was a two-points the Gryphs needed to get. And the team responded with one of their best performances of the season. The Gryphons won 76-58 over the visiting Thunderbirds, snapping a six-game losing streak and improving to 4-9 on the season to remain in 3rd in the OUA's Central Division. The top 12 teams in the OUA qualify for the playoffs. The Gryphs currently sit 10th in the latest OUA RPI rankings. 

The Gryphons got off to a great start Friday against Algoma, building up a 23-13 lead after the opening quarter of play. Fourth year guard Jonathan Wallace, who finished the night with a team-high 20 points, helped get things going early on with back-to-back threes. The Gryphons would end a strong 1st quarter by going on a 15-4 run over the final 5:28 to take an early double digit lead which the team would not relinquish.

Algoma entered Friday night's game fresh off a 79-78 victory over Windsor in which the Thunderbirds knocked down 10 three pointers and shot 41.7% from beyond the arc. Things were a little harder to come by on Friday however as a the Gryphs locked things down defensively on the perimeter. The Gryphons were able to hold Algoma to just 2-of-19 shooting (10.5%) from beyond the arc. Aside from leading the team in scoring, Jonathan Wallace also finished with a team-high four steals on the night as the Gryphons held their opponents to a season-low 58-points on 29% shooting from the field (19-65).

The Gryphons bench outscored Algoma's 33-15, with rookie point guard Jordan Sobot chipping in with 10 points off the pine. Fellow rookie Banky Alade (Sherwood Park, Alberta) had a team-high 7 rebounds as the Gryphs won the battle on the glass, out-rebounding the Thunderbirds 40-31.

The victory also marked the Gryphons first win on their new home court in what was their third game at the new Guelph Gryphons Athletics Centre. They will look to make it two in a row as they will be right back in action on Saturday as they play host to the No. 6-ranked team in the country in division rivals Brock (8-4). Tip is set for 8pm on Saturday and can be seen live online at www.oua.tv.