TORONTO – The Lakehead Thunderwolves men’s basketball team was nationally ranked this season, but will have to prove itself all over again in 2023-24.
They showed plenty of promise in Friday night’s season opener, but ran out of gas down the streach and dropped an 86-76 decision to the host Toronto Metropolitan Bold.
Chris Sagl led the Wolves with 21 points, grabbing seven rebound and handing out four assists, one of three LU players to hit double digits.
Harold Santacruz had 16 and Laoui Msambya had 14 to pass Dwayne Harvey and move into 14th on Lakehead’s all-time regular-season scoring list with 687 points. Next up is Warren Thomas, who had 721 from 2006 to 2008.
David Walker led all scorers, putting up 23 for the Bold, while Aaron Rhooms scored 17 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, including five on the offensive glass.
Lakehead led 26-22 after one and led deep into the second quarter, but trailed 45-42 at the half.
The Thunderwolves and Bold meet again on Saturday night at the Mattamy Athletic Centre.
