Going 7-1 prior to Christmas left No. 8-ranked Windsor with precious little breathing room in the claustrophobic West Division as the Lancers head into tonight's game in London against the Western Mustangs (8 p.m.).

 

"It gave us one game up on Lakehead and Laurier (both 6-2)," Windsor coach Chris Oliver said of the Lancers' tenuous hold on first place.

 

"We've got to improve in the second semester. We want to hold home court and win some games on the road."

 

After a long and winding paperwork trail, LaSalle native and Sandwich grad Ryan Wood is finally eligible to pitch in.

 

A transfer from the District of Columbia, he's waited 18 months for the CIS to OK his academic transcripts.

 

"His natural size and skill help us right away," Oliver said of the seven-foot, 250-pound post. "He gives us a different look we just haven't had and that's pure size."

 

Wood instantly becomes the tallest Lancer and the biggest by almost 40 pounds.

 

A big body on the front line couldn't come at a more opportune time.

 

The Mustangs (5-3) have a daunting mix of experience and size in six-foot-five Andrew Wedemire, the defending conference player of the year, six-foot-eight Adam Jespersen and six-foot-seven Garrett Olexiuk.

 

"I'm excited to get back into it," said Wood, who took a year off school after leaving the District of Columbia.

 

"I think I can add some help side defence, patrol the paint, rebound and chip in a few points here and there."

 

With Wood available to play in the front court along with six-foot-eight Lien Phillip and six-foot-nine freshman Evan Matthews, it allows Oliver to shift six-foot-six Andre Smythe to a more natural spot at guard.

 

"It allows us to play bigger with Andre at the three spot and it improves our defence and our rebounding," Oliver said.

 

"It gives us options and the opportunity to go with multiple matchups that are to our advantage."

 

The Lancers return back home this Saturday when they host the Brock Badgers at 8:00pm at the St. Denis Centre.