Algoma University's men's basketball team faced a challenging weekend at the George Leach Centre, falling to Toronto 83-54 on Friday and Toronto Metropolitan 99-46 on Saturday, leaving the Thunderbirds still searching for their first win of the season.
Despite the losses, several Algoma players stood out with strong individual performances. Kal-El Alejo had solid contributions in both games, scoring 16 points against Toronto and adding 5 points versus Toronto Metropolitan. His presence on the court helped anchor the Thunderbirds' offense and provided leadership through a tough pair of contests.
Logan Whitmell also had a strong weekend, combining for 25 points across the two games, including a team-high 17 points against Toronto Metropolitan. He contributed key rebounds and assists while working to keep the Thunderbirds competitive in stretches.
Elliot Caron offered efficiency and energy, scoring 10 points against Toronto while adding defensive plays and rebounds. Elijah Quissua provided a spark with 9 points on Saturday, hitting two three-pointers and showing his ability to score from distance.
Other contributors included Jean-Luc Cubahiro (6 points, 10 rebounds over the weekend), Chance Beaudoin-Skerritt (9 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists), Oliver Kristoffersen (5 points, 4 rebounds), Biong Deng (9 points, 3 rebounds), and Christian Uduimoh (5 rebounds), among others.
While the Thunderbirds struggled with shooting, connecting on just 25-26% from three-point range across the weekend, they showed resilience on the boards and in defensive efforts, collecting 57 rebounds against Toronto and 24 versus Toronto Metropolitan. Players also generated points off turnovers, demonstrating flashes of energy and hustle despite the lopsided scores.
Although the results were not what Algoma hoped for, the performances of Alejo, Whitmell, Caron, and Quissua provided a foundation for growth as the Thunderbirds continue to navigate a challenging start to the season.
The team resumes play for the upcoming games when they hit the road against York University on Friday, November 28th and Brock University on Saturday. November 29th. Both games will be live streamed on OUA tv.
