Okonkwo leads Ridgebacks in narrow loss to Lakehead
THUNDER BAY, Ont. – The Ontario Tech men's basketball team came up just short in their OUA season opener on Saturday night, falling 83–77 to the Lakehead Thunderwolves at the Thunderdome.
Ontario Tech jumped out to an early lead after a strong first quarter, outscoring Lakehead 21–11 behind an energetic start on both ends of the floor. The Thunderwolves responded in the second frame with a 27-point effort to pull ahead 38–37 at halftime.
The second half remained close throughout, with the Ridgebacks staying within striking distance but unable to reclaim the lead. Lakehead's Harold Santacruz led all scorers with 30 points and six rebounds, while Chris Sagl added 23 points and 10 assists for the hosts.
For the Ridgebacks, Emmanuel Okonkwo paced the offence with 17 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Jaiden Kandasamy and Keon Baker each finished with 10 points, while Johan Germain and Caleb Kassa contributed eight apiece. Ontario Tech shot 41.9 per cent from the field and 66.7 per cent from the line, outrebounding Lakehead on the offensive glass and tallying eight blocks defensively.
The Ridgebacks will continue their road trip next weekend by taking on the Western Mustangs on October 31 and the Windsor Lancers on November 1.
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