After losing their first two games in a doubleheader weekend to the Western Mustangs, the Algoma Thunderbirds returned to Sault College tonight looking for redemption. The Mustangs came out on top, winning their final two games of the weekend.
 
After yesterday's tough loss to the Western Mustangs, 54-51, the Algoma Thunderbirds came back strong looking for redemption. Algoma jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the fast-paced game. Western answered the call to tie the game. After three minutes of stale shooting, Western sunk a field goal and a shot from outside to pull ahead 9-4, forcing Algoma to call a timeout. Western continued to penetrate Algoma's defence finding empty pockets to drive the score further apart. The Thunderbirds were down by 14 going into the second. Western's solid man-to-man formation and key blocks stopped Algoma from edging forward. By the half, the Mustangs had widened the gap, 37-15. Algoma improved upon earlier shooting woes in the second half but couldn't recover the 20-point deficit. Western's three-point shooting late in the third ran up the score 55-28. The Thunderbirds opened the final minutes with a five-point run but Western continued to dominate the boards, winning their second consecutive game of the season, 76-43.
 
The Mustangs return to London with an improved 2-4 record, while Algoma falls to fifth in the OUA West at 0-5. Western shot an impressive 58 percent from beyond the arc and 51 percent from inside. Laura Meadows led the Thunderbirds in their losing effort with 11 points, followed closely by Becky Dewetering with 10. Western's Mackenzie Puklicz led both squads with 13.
 
In the men's action, the teams exchanged baskets early in the first. A failed layup and a charge call on Algoma's Wais Mohamed tipped the game in favour of Western, giving them a five-point advantage. Western widened the gap to eight, only for both teams to fall silent down the stretch. Samy Mohamed's three-pointer at the buzzer allowed the Thunderbirds to get within two of the Mustangs going into the second. A quieter start to the second quarter saw both teams struggle to put up points and Western's Neil Henderson picked up a technical foul. Going into the second half, Algoma trailed 37-28. The Mustangs continued to drive ahead, widening the gap to by 20 halfway through the third. The Thunderbirds' Adam Benrabah came into his game late in the third and chipped into the deficit but five personal fouls benched him with two minutes left. Western pulled ahead by 30 going into the final quarter. Western's momentum continued, and they won their second game of the weekend, 87-56.
 
Western improved to 4-2 and the Thunderbirds dipped to 0-5. Benrabah led the Thunderbirds with 14 points and 4 rebounds. Gregory Morrow of the Mustangs earned an impressive 28. 
 
The Algoma Thunderbirds are back on the road next weekend in their final games of 2014. On Friday, the teams play the Queen's Gaels in Kingston, and on Saturday the teams head to Toronto to take on the York Lions.