The University of Windsor Lancers men's basketball team is looking to make back it to the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

The Lancers made it back to the playoffs after a 12-10 regular season in 2024-25, good for second place in the OUA West division. Windsor had their playoffs hopes dashed quickly with a 75-59 loss to the Laurentian Voyageurs on home court.

With the help of a strong core of returning players and exciting new players looking to make an impact, the Lancers are poised for a successful regular season with hopes of making a deep run in the OUA playoffs, and head coach Chris Cheng has high praise and excitement for his squad: "This year's team has more size and versatility at all positions. We want to make defense a high priority as we feel we have the right personnel to make that end of the floor our strength. We plan to use our size as an advantage at both ends of the floor."
 
NOTABLE RETURNING PLAYERS
Luke Grace, a fourth-year forward, will make a difference-maker on the court. He averaged 10.0 points per game last season and used his 6'9" frame to pick up 6.5 rebounds per game. "I'm excited for the season. I definitely feel like this is a group that can make a deep run in the playoffs. The expectation is to be competing for a provincial and national championship," said Grace.
Previously a Georgian College transfer, Emanuel Otong is now in his second season with the blue and gold and will continue to make an impact after averaging 12.9 points per game on 45.6% shooting from the field.

Yohann Sam led the Lancers with 18.3 points per game, 6.2 rebounds per game, and 1.3 steals per game in 2024-25, resulting in him being drafted second overall to the Brampton Honey Badgers in the 2025 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) draft. The OUA third-team all-star and Lancer Team MVP appeared in four games with the Honey Badgers over the summer, and will be able to apply his pro experience back on the OUA court with the Lancers.
 
NEW PLAYERS
The Lancers have a strong group of fresh faces, led by transfer point guard Andrew Cook. Cook comes from the Waterloo Warriors, and after sitting last season per U SPORTS transfer rules, will use his passing tendencies to be a natural floor general. In two seasons with the Warriors, Cook appeared in 37 games and shot 40% from the field in 21 games in 2023-24.

Bronson Chambers is another transfer player from the Lake Region State College Royals in North Dakota. He has the ability to shoot and score at all levels, and will be able to step in and make an immediate impact on the team.

A top recruit coming from the Lancers via Medicine Hat, Alta. Marodama Benjamin is a 6'7" forward that can create shots at the rim and shoot from beyond the arc, brining size to the front court.
 
2024-25 STAT LEADERS
Points per game: Yohann Sam – 18.3
Assists per game: Lorenzo Barbieri – 3.1
Rebounds per game: Luke Grace – 6.5
Steals per game: Lorenzo Barbieri – 1.7
Blocks per game: Ryan Wasylyshyn – 0.8
 
KEY MATCHUPS
October 31 vs Queen's
Men's basketball returns to the Toldo Lancer Centre as the Lancers host the Queen's Gaels on Halloween. The Gaels made it all the way to the Wilson Cup final last season, and the eastern Ontario program will surely be a tough test for the Lancers early in the season.

November 29 vs Ottawa
The Lancers take on the defending Wilson Cup champions and best team in the 2024-25 OUA regular season in the Ottawa Gee-Gees, who went 20-2 last season, and carried that momentum throughout the playoffs. The Garnet and Grey will again be a top team in the province, and Windsor will have to prove themselves against this tough opponent.

January 31 vs Laurier
Windsor hosts a division rival in their penultimate home game, taking on a Laurier Golden Hawks team that found them just below the Lancers in the standings. This game will prove to be a pivotal matchup in a crowded OUA West division where teams will be fighting for playoff seeding throughout the season.

The Lancers open their home schedule on Friday, October 31 against the Queen's Gaels. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m., and tickets are available at golancers.ca/tickets and the game can be streamed online via oua.tv.