GUELPH, Ont. - The Guelph Gryphons men's basketball team suffered a 96-88 loss on Wednesday night (Jan. 31) to the Western Mustangs in a matchup of divisional rivals. With the loss the Gryphons fall to 5-12 on the season while the Mustangs improve to 11-6. With five games remaining in their regular season schedule, the Gryphons sit just two spots back of the 12th and final playoff seed in the OUA men's basketball postseason picture.
It was a tightly-contested game from start to finish on Wednesday night at Alumni Hall in London, with the Gryphons getting off to a strong start and taking a 10-point lead into the locker room at halftime. The Mustangs would respond with a convincing 3rd quarter that saw them erase the Gryphon lead with a 26-18 scoring advantage.
With just under three minutes remaining in the 4th quarter, the Gryphons were holding onto a slim lead on the road, but it would not last after the host Mustangs went on a 12-2 run late, while also forcing four Gryphon turnovers, to steal the win.
Despite the loss, the Gryphons received some strong individual performances, with 2022-23 OUA Rookie of the Year
Dezayne Mingo leading the way with a 24-point, 10 rebound double-double in 36 minutes of action. Mingo was not the only Gryphon to reach double-digits in multiple statistical categories however, with second-year forward
Eric Armstrong recording the first double-double of his career. The New Hamburg native totaled 14 points and 10 boards, both season-highs, while shooting 50% from the field. Teammates
Emmanuel Ansah and
Shaathon Walker also chipped in with 16 points and 12 points, respectively.
The Gryphons (5-12) will now look to bounce back with another key road matchup against a divisional rival coming up. On Sunday afternoon (Feb. 4) the Gryphons will make the trip down highway 401 to Windsor to face off with the Lancers who currently sit two games back of the Gryphons in the OUA West standings with a 3-13 record. Sunday's game can be seen live online at
oua.tv. With two of their final five games of the season coming against playoff teams, the Gryphons will need a strong late-season push to keep their playoff hopes alive.
