GUELPH, Ont. – The Guelph Gryphons men's basketball team picked up their first win of the 2023-24 season, putting together a strong performance on their home court Friday night versus the visiting Algoma Thunderbirds. The Gryphons (1-4) took a 10-point lead into the locker room at halftime, and pulled away in the 3rd quarter, outscoring Algoma 26-13 in the period, to take a commanding 74-51 lead into the 4th quarter. The deficit would prove to be too much to overcome for the Thunderbirds, who despite putting up 28 points in the final frame, would be on the wrong end of an 89-79 score line in Guelph's favour.
Senior forward,
Emmanuel Ansah, scored a team-high 22 points off the bench for the Gryphons on an efficient 9-of-11 shooting from the floor, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc.
Dezayne Mingo, the reigning OUA Rookie of the Year, finished with 18 points to go along with 5 assists, 4 steals and 3 rebounds.
Shaathon Walker, a talented guard from Ajax, Ontario currently in his first season as a Gryphon, added 14 points on 7-of-10 shooting, while fourth-year forward Viktor Nausedas contributed with 11 points and 6 rebounds.
The Gryphons (1-4) and Thunderbirds (0-5) will square off once again on Saturday afternoon in Guelph, with tip at the Guelph Gryphons Athletics Centre set for 4pm.
