Box Score WINDSOR, Ont.- Evan Matthews recorded a game-high 18 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double, and the Windsor Lancers men's basketball team defeated Laurier 93-73 on Thursday night at St. Denis Centre, kicking off the 2013 portion of their conference schedule. 

Lien Phillip (Grenada) picked up a double-double, including 14 points and a game-high 15 rebounds, while Michael Petrella added 15 points and four assist in the victory for the CIS No. 8-ranked Windsor (6-2), who remain atop the OUA West heading into the weekend.  William Coulthard and Matthew Chesson each had a team-high 15 points in a losing cause for the Golden Hawks (2-6). 

Matthews notched two straight buckets early in the match, but it was the Golden Hawks who would take an early lead, going up 9-6 at the four-minute mark of the period.  Matthews (Tecumseh, Ont.) garnered another two points after a long jumper, and Ismar Seferagic (Toronto) notched a bucket to bring the Lancers within one.  Michael Petrella then picked up a pass in transition, picking up a lay-up and the harm to give Windsor its first lead of the contest.  The Golden Hawks responded, as Coulthard drained a corner three with time running out in the quarter.  Laurier held a 20-19 advantage at the end of the first.

Rotimi Osuntola Jr. opened the second with a take-away, and then threaded the needle with a through-pass to Enrico Diloreto for the lay-in.  Diloreto (London, Ont.) notched another lay-up moments later, and Matthews sank a three to put Windsor up 28-22.  The Lancers upped the tempo on defence, forcing a couple of centre-court violations against the Golden Hawks, and spread the lead to nine.  Osuntola's three off a pass from Phillip pushed the advantage into double-digits late in the half.  Another turnover after full-court Lancers pressure turned into three more points for Petrella.  The Brantford, Ont. native's speed was too much for Laurier's defence, as the quick senior twice sprinted end-to-end for lay-ups. 

Petrella and Matthews tallied a half-high of 11 points each, as the Lancers went into the locker-rooms with a 51-35 lead.  Windsor shot 46.7% from the field, while Laurier was 40% through the first two quarters. 

Windsor maintained a 15-point advantage through the first five minutes of the third quarter.  Osuntola pounced on a rebound at the top of the rim, slamming it home to extend the lead.  The Lancers continued to add to its lead throughout the period, and would hold a 69-51 lead heading into the final period of play. 

The visitors attempted to scrape back into the contest in the fourth, but carelessly left Osuntola open down court, making way for another big slam by the hometown native.  But the Golden Hawks managed to make a dent in the lead, cutting it down to 14 by the five-minute mark.  But a timely three by Seferagic quickly erased the momentum.  The Lancers would cruise to their sixth win of the season. 

The Lancers finished the game with a 43.7% field-goal percentage, while Laurier was just over 40% from the floor.  Windsor won the rebound battle, picking up 46 compared to 39 for the visitors.

The OUA West division-leading Lancers will look for its fourth straight conference win this Saturday, January 5 when it welcomes the Guelph Gryphons to the St. Denis Centre.  Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m. and can be seen live online at USTREAM's Lancers TV.