The Windsor Lancers battled hard Friday night but came up just short, dropping a tough 95-86 road contest to the Algoma Thunderbirds in Sault Ste. Marie.
 
The Lancers led early but the Thunderbirds never relented, grabbing the lead just before halftime and holding it to the end. The loss puts Windsor below .500, sitting at 4-5 on the season.
 
GAME STATS
Algoma's Nicholas Gehlen led all scorers, dropping 28 points on 56 per cent shooting. The Lancers were led by Thomas Kennedy who scored 18 on 54 per cent from the field.
 
Shakael Pryce had dished out seven assists to lead the game. The Thunderbirds' had three players tied for the team lead with three assists.
 
Gehlen also led the game in steals with four. Telloy Simon had the quickest hands for the Lancers, notching three steals on the night.
 
GAME FLOW
The Lancers shot well in the first half and got consistent production from their guards, with Shakael Pryce, Jordan Fullerton, Telloy Simon and Justice Byam all scoring at least seven points in the half while the Lancers as a team shot an impressive 59 per cent from the field. Unfortunately for the Blue and Gold they lacked defensive intensity, allowing the Thunderbirds to hit over 65 per cent of their shots from the field, including 50 per cent from deep. The Thunderbirds' hot shooting placed them in a slim lead at halftime, 47-44 over the Lancers.
 
The second half was more of the same, Windsor's shooting cooled down, as did the Thunderbirds, but Algoma was still hitting more than half their looks from the field. Thomas Kennedy and Shakeal Pryce combined for 24 points in the second half alone on 59 per cent shooting, but it wasn't enough to overcome the hot hand of Nicholas Gehlen, who scored 20 on his own on 59 per cent to lead his Thunderbirds to victory, 95-86.
 
UP NEXT
The Lancers get a shot at revenge, playing the Thunderbirds again on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 6:00pm on www.OUA.tv.