Box Score WINDSOR, Ont.- Enrico Di Loreto tallied a team-high 14 points while Lien Phillip recorded his second double-double, and the Windsor Lancers men's basketball team survived a fourth quarter comeback bid to move to 2-0 on the season, defeating the upstart Ottawa Gee-Gees 72-68. 

Josh Collins picked up 12 points and Matthew Evans added nine for the Lancers (2-0).  The Gee-Gees (1-1) were led by Johnny Berhanemeskel who led all scorers with 26 points. 

All-star forward Phillip (Grenada) got into foul trouble early, picking up two within the first three minutes of the contest that forced Coach Chris Oliver to make an early substitution.  However, the Lancers picked up four points off of Gee-Gees turnovers that gave them an early lead.  A three-ball by Nana Ntim (Bradford, Ont.) off some great ball movement put Windsor up 9-6.  But the Gee-Gees would use some take-aways of their own retake the lead.  A low-scoring opening quarter saw the visitors garner a 15-14 lead at the end of the first. 

Di Loreto opened the second with a strong baseline drive to grab two points, and Ntim drained a corner three on the next possession.  Windsor forced a Gee-Gees turnover coming out of the timeout, and Di Loreto (London, Ont.) sank a shot from beyond the arc to further increase the spread.  Ottawa looked out of sorts in the first minutes of the second as the Lancers beefed up their defense and went on a 10-0 run to begin the period.  Rotimi Osuntola Jr. (Windsor) completed a three-point play after taking a pass from Phillip in transition, but a three from Ottawa's Berhanemeskel kept the contest in single digits. 

Osuntola picked up a big block that livened a flat second quarter, and Windsor.  That sparked Ryan Christie (Hamilton), who took an underneath pass from Di Loreto and picked up two more points for the Lancers.  Di Loreto nailed a long three near the end of the half, but five points in the final half-minute of the second brought Ottawa within eight after 20 minutes of play. 

The Gee-Gees shot just 27.6% in the first half compared to 48.1% from the Lancers, but outrebounded the home team 21-16.  Berhanemeskel led all players with 12 points in the first half of play. 

Both sides picked up the offensive production at the beginning of the second half.  However, it was the Lancers who would pad their lead, exploding for a 13-5 run that put them up by 16 and prompted a timeout from Ottawa Coach James Derouin.  The Gee-Gees managed to crawl back into the contest, bringing the deficit down to single digits once again.  Windsor sought to maintain its substantial lead with a bucket from beyond the arc by Di Loreto that was quickly followed by a three-point play courtesy of Evan Matthews (Tecumseh, Ont.).  However, Moe Ismail knocked down a jumper for three at the end of the period, further cutting into Windsor's lead.  The hosts led 55-48 after three quarters.  

Matt Plunkett hit two straight shots for the Gee-Gees, cutting the lead to five.  The Gee-Gees remained in striking distance through the opening five minutes of the fourth.  Berhanemeskel then scored five straight points for the Gee-Gees, cutting the lead to three.  Another three-ball from Berhanemeskel brought Ottawa within a single point of the Lancers. 

Phillip came up with a big play inside to maintain Windsor' small lead, as they went up 64-60 with two minutes to play.  Following a turnover Josh Collins (Toronto) and Osuntola connected on a 2-on-1 for two more points, widening the advantage to six.  Phillip then stole the ball of an Ottawa pass, and made 1-of-2 free throws.  The Lancers then caught Ottawa off-guard after a Gee-Gees basket, and Osuntola was left wide open and threw down an authoritative slam to put a stamp on the affair. 

The Lancers begin their first road trip of the season when they visit the Laurentian Voyageurs and York Lions next weekend.  The men are back on the St. Denis Centre court on November 23 and 24, when they will host the University of Toronto Varsity Blues and Ryerson Rams respectively.  Tip-off for both games is set for 8:00 p.m.