WINDSOR – There have been a few regrets for the Guelph Gryphons men's basketball team in the opening week of the OUA season. The Gryphons hit the road for two games and were in position to win both. Three days after a narrow defeat in the opener at McMaster, Guelph lost 90-80 to the Windsor Lancers Saturday afternoon at the St. Denis Centre.
 
Guelph (0-2) rode a couple runs to get within striking distance of the Lancers but were unable to come up with key stops in the final minutes in order to steal the game.
 
"It was a roller-coaster for us at both ends of the floor," said Gryphons' head coach Chris O'Rourke. "We gave up too many second-chance points at key times. And we didn't capitalize enough offensively."
 
Guelph guard Taylor Boers led the way with 15 points, one of five Gryphons in double digits. Drew Walford had team highs with eight rebounds and three steals, while guard Drew Walford chipped in a team-best 12 points off the bench.

The offence came to life in the fourth quarter as Guelph scored 24 points. The problem was defending. The Lancers scored 23, many on easy baskets. Boers hit a big three-pointer to get the Gryphons within six points and when Andrew Grant went up strong for an inside bucket with 3:21 left, the Windsor lead was shaved to four at 77-73.

But Lancer forward Randy Oriakhi replied by scoring four of his 12 points on back-to-back field goals from inside the paint. Point guard Mike Rocca, who poured in a game-high 33 points, then nailed a three-pointer, followed by a spin and fadeaway that extended the lead to 86-75 and put the game out of reach.
 
O'Rourke said his team suffered from lapses defensively and rebounding, especially in their own end of the court.
 
"It's been the story of the season so far – we give up offensive boards at critical times," said O'Rourke. "We have to compete at the defensive end and on the glass and consistently sustain it at a high level to be successful."
 
Guelph trailed 51-41 at the half but produced a 7-0 run early in the third quarter, capped by a Walford layup that cut the Windsor lead to 51-48. But the Lancers created their own run and when Lucas Orlita and Rocca made back-to-back threes, stretching the margin to 12 at 67-55.
 
The Gryphons shot well from the floor but were again uncharacteristically sloppy at the free throw line, which cost them in a narrow loss to the Marauders Wednesday. Guelph made just 10 of 19 free throws and hit four of 17 from long range. The Gryphons also managed just four assists on the day, two from Boers.

They were without veteran guard Jonathan Wallace for the second straight game. Wallace was in a walking boot with a foot injury and the Gryphons will have a better idea of how much time he will miss by next week.
 
Guelph goes back on the road with games against Carleton and Ottawa on Friday, Nov. 3 and Saturday, Nov. 4. Tips are at 8 pm.