LONDON, ON & WINDSOR, ON – The Algoma Thunderbirds men's basketball team continued their OUA regular season road schedule this past weekend with back-to-back games against two of the conference's top contenders — the undefeated Western Mustangs and the Windsor Lancers. Despite tough outcomes, the Thunderbirds showcased grit, strong individual efforts, and moments of offensive rhythm that highlight their continued development.
Friday, November 7 – Western 87, Algoma 61
The Thunderbirds opened their weekend at Alumni Hall in London, going toe-to-toe early with the nationally ranked Mustangs before Western's size and depth took control in the second half.
Kal-El Alejo led Algoma's offense with 17 points, hitting four three-pointers and going a perfect 3-for-3 from the line, demonstrating his ability to create shots under pressure. Logan Whitmell turned in another strong two-way performance with 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists, attacking the rim and contributing on the glass.
Sharpshooter Biong Deng added 9 points, all from beyond the arc, while forward Jean-Luc Cubahiro provided an efficient 8 points on 4-of-6 shooting in the paint. Oliver Kristoffersen anchored the defense and pulled down a team-high 8 rebounds, while Chance Beaudoin-Skerritt added 5 points and 3 assists off the bench.
As a team, Algoma shared the ball effectively, registering 17 assists on 20 made field goals, and continued to show composure at the free-throw line, converting at a solid 73.7% clip.
Saturday, November 8 – Windsor 72, Algoma 41
The Thunderbirds wrapped up the road swing at the Toldo Lancer Centre in Windsor, facing another talented opponent. Though the Lancers pulled away early, Algoma continued to compete throughout, highlighted by another standout night from Kal-El Alejo, who scored a game-high 18 points, including three three-pointers.
Logan Whitmell again proved reliable, contributing 10 points and 6 rebounds, while Biong Deng added 5 points and energy on the defensive end. Veteran forward Jean-Luc Cubahiro chipped in 3 points and 3 rebounds, and Chance Beaudoin-Skerritt connected from long range while adding 3 points and a pair of assists off the bench.
The Thunderbirds showed discipline at the stripe, sinking 85% of their free throws (11-for-13), and continued to battle on the boards, collecting 28 rebounds against a much larger Windsor lineup.
Despite facing two of the OUA's most balanced teams on the road, the Thunderbirds' weekend featured several bright spots — improved ball movement, confident perimeter shooting, and consistent leadership from their veteran core.
Algoma returns home next weekend to the George Leach Centre, where they'll look to build on their growing team game and turn their progress into positive results in front of their home fans when they play the Lakehead Thunderwolves at 2:00 pm on Sunday, November 8th. This game will be streamed live on OUA tv.
