GUELPH, Ont. – The Guelph Gryphons men's basketball team knows it's crunch time in the OUA West. And Guelph played with the desperation necessary at this time of the year, with second-year guard Malcolm Glanville leading the way. The Gryphons got a career-high 39 points from Glanville as they beat the Lakehead Thunderwolves 91-87 in an OT thriller at the GGAC Saturday night.
 
Glanville, a Toronto, ON playing in his first full season at Guelph, was lethal in the game's decisive moments, attacking the rim relentlessly and making clutch shots. His late layup got the hosts to within one point of Lakehead at 76-75 but he was far from done. Glanville hit a fadeaway from just beyond the right elbow to regain the lead for Guelph at 77-76.

 

The Gryphons looked to have it wrapped up after Kieran Naus stole the ball and made a free throw for a two-point lead with seconds left. But Alston Harris (18 points) shocked the crowd with a runner on the right baseline to send the game to overtime. There was a moment of controversy when Lakehead had six players on the court prior to Guelph's final inbounds play in regulation. But the referees allowed one of the Thunderwolves player to leave the court and no technical was assessed.
 
Glanville, who made 12 of 21 shots from the floor, 12 of 15 free throw, and added 8 rebounds, kept his incredible offensive pace going in the extra session, beginning the period with another layup inside. He would go hard to the basket again, scoring with a Lakehead defender draped on him for an 88-85 lead. Aaron Nugent then hit two clutch free throws and Glanville would sink one of two to reach 39 points, one night after Tommy Yanchus had a career-best 37.
 
Rasheed Weekes also had a huge game scoring 20 points, many of them coming in the pivotal fourth quarter, to go along with a game-high 13 rebounds.
  
Guelph began the game well but had a drought on offence that allowed the Thunderwolves to build a double-digit lead in the first half. A big third quarter in which the hosts outscored Lakehead 29-15 got the Gryphons back in it and Glanville eventually gave the hosts their first lead in a long time when he buried a three-pointer from the left wing with under seven minutes left in the fourth quarter.
 
Guelph outrebounded the Thunderwolves by double digits for the second straight night (46-35) and had an excellent night from the line, making 31 of 37 free throw attempts (83.8 per cent). The team also showed some hunger with 16 second-chance points compared to 7 for the visitors.
 
 
 
Gryphon Take
"This win was very important for us as a team. Being able to go 2-0 at home is a confidence booster and puts us in a better position for the playoffs. More importantly, we've had our ups and downs as a team but today we showed character and were able to execute our game plan to control and close the game."

"I was definitely feeling it offensively. When I get it going, I don't think there is anybody in this league that can stop me but at the end of the day, it was more important to get the stops on defence. One of the many things coach has taught me this year is to survey the court and take what the defence gives me whether it's an assist or a field goal. A big shout out to our assistant coach TB (Taylor Boers), who has been working with me on my shooting mechanics every single day, sometimes twice a day. I wasn't satisfied with my performance in the first semester and I just want to be a better player for our team's success, whether it's scoring the ball or facilitating." – second-year guard Malcolm Glanville

"This was a huge character win for us. Lakehead took it to us and had control in the first half. But we really responded defensively in the second half. Malcolm imposed his will at the offensive end over and over. These guys have been responding to what we are asking of them. It's a relatively new group and we knew it would take some time." – head coach Chris O'Rourke

 
The Record
Guelph is 5-7.

 
Next up
@ Waterloo, Thursday, Jan. 10, 11 am