GUELPH, Ont. – What a way to start off the new season. On Friday night (Oct. 24, 2025) at the Guelph Gryphons Athletics Centre, the Gryphons men's basketball team picked up a thrilling, 87-83, victory over the reigning OUA champion, Ottawa Gee-Gees, in the opening game of the 2025-26 OUA regular season schedule. The Gryphons built up a 10-point lead at the half, and held off a second half push from the Gee-Gees, with a late steal and a dunk from Jack Tunstill at the buzzer helping to seal the 87-83 victory. Gryphons 6-foot-7 rookie guard, Vito Albanese, stole the show in his OUA debut, leading the Gryphons with 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. Fourth-year forward Eric Armstrong added 18 points and 8 rebounds.