Wedemire Western GoodLife Fitness Athlete of the Week

Report by - Mustangs Athletics

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Andy Wedemire led the Mustangs to two wins this past week over Brock and Guelph in men's basketball. In the 70-69 win on Thursday Wedemire had 22 points, including a perfect 12-12 from the foul line, and added 8 rebounds and three assists. In the 74-60 victory against Brock he poured in 27 points with 12 rebounds and 1 assist and steal.

Western Gazette article on Mustang's win vs Guelph Saturday

Wedemire vs Guelph 

Western Gazette Report by Arden Zwelling

They double-teamed him, they fouled him and they played him so aggressively he went crashing to the floor on more than one occasion.

But Saturday afternoon there would be no stopping Andrew Wedemire — wonky ankle or not.

“That’s expected from Guelph. It’s always a clutch and grab, grind it out type of game,” Wedemire said after his Mustangs sent the Gryphons packing with a commanding 74-60 win, improving Western’s playoff chances while pushing Guelph’s to the brink at the same time.

Despite playing with a nagging ankle injury, the fifth-year forward led the Mustangs with 27 hard-earned points and 12 rebounds in 33 physical minutes of play. He went to the free throw line 12 times as the Gryphons continually fouled the 6’6 All-Canadian under the basket.

Wedemire is being counted on to play a big role now that Garret Olexiuk and Adam Jespersen — the Mustangs two next best big men — are out of the lineup with injuries.

Averaging 22 points and eight rebounds over his past five games, Wedemire is certainly rising to the occasion.

“It’s something that’s asked of me and it’s something that I’ll try and do for this team,” Wedemire said of the added pressure. “The team is looking for leadership and that’s what we (the team’s veteran players) are trying to provide late in the season because we know how tough it gets at the end of the year.”

Joining Wedemire in providing that leadership was fifth-year guard Brett Lawrence, who had 12 points on five of six shooting off the bench, and fourth-year point guard Ryan Bar beau, whose 11 points were underscored by the litany of intangibles he provided that don’t show up on stat sheets.

“Ryan did an outstanding job today of controlling the tempo, and running the game and managing it,” Mustangs head coach Brad Campbell said. “That’s exactly what we need from him. Although he didn’t overwhelm you with stats today, he did a fantastic job from the point.”

For the Mustangs, it was their third win in their last four games and lifts them to a .500 record and a tie with McMaster for fourth in the crowded Ontario University Athletics West division standings.

That makes Wednesday’s game against the Marauders in Hamilton all the more important as the Mustangs try to control their own destiny in the playoffs.

A loss to the Marauders Wednesday would put the Mustangs in an uncertain situation as two of their final three games come against the first place Lakehead Thunderwolves.

“We just need outright wins. We want to avoid being tied with anyone,” Wedemire said. “We’ll be happy as long as we don’t have to sit there on the last day and see if we make it in by point spread or not. You don’t want to do that.”

Playing defence like they did Saturday afternoon will certainly help the Mustangs earn the three wins they will likely need to reach that goal.

Western held Guelph to 35 per cent shooting from the field, and just 18 points in the first half, contesting every Gryphons shot opportunity and pushing the tempo early.

“I think we definitely set the tone,” Campbell said of his team’s defence. “That was out biggest point to start the game. We had to come out and set the pace and let Guelph know in the first five minutes of the game that nothing was going to be easy.”

The Gryphons tried in vain to mount a comeback in the latter 20 minutes as fourth-year guard Michael Petrella poured in 30 of his team-leading 32 points in the second half alone.

But Wedemire had a big second half of his own, scoring 20 points and getting to the free throw line 11 times.

Quinn Henderson was also key, hitting two clutch three pointers in the second half and grabbing a pair of crucial offensive rebounds late in the fourth quarter to extend Mustang possessions and stifle any semblance of a Gryphons comeback.

With the help of Henderson, the Mustangs would end up out-rebounding the Gryphons 34-27 in the game, only the second time in their last seven games that the Mustangs have out-rebounded an opponent. The last time it happened was in early January against these same Gryphons.

“One of our biggest points every game is to win the battle of the board,” Campbell said. “If you can do that, you have a great chance to win.”

Mustangs 74 Guelph 60

Report by Adele Gatto - Mustangs Athletics

LONDON, Ont. - The defensive and offensive excellence of Andrew Wedemire helped the Mustangs defeat the Guelph Gryphons 74-60. Wedemire ended the game with 27 points and 12 rebounds.

It was a strong offensive and defensive start for the Mustangs, as Western took the early 18-12 lead. Wedermire’s four rebounds led the Mustang defense, while Brett Lawrence contributed three. Wedemire also led the early offensive drive with six points including a monstrous dunk set-up by Ryan Barbeau, who contributed four points to the first quarter.

Defense continued to reign strong for Western throughout the second quarter, as they captured another seven defensive rebounds and held Guelph to an additional six points. Offensively, Lawrence contributed six more points to the Mustang lead, while Wedemire showed his strength as he battled through heavy Gryphon defense to capitalize on key scoring opportunities. Marcus Barnett threw two-for-two at the free-throw line and aided the Mustang defensive with two steals in the second. Western had a 36-18 lead at half.

After the half, Guelph came out with a quick seven points to inch closer to the Mustang lead while maintaining control of the ball for the majority of the first half of the quarter. Wedemire was effective at the foul line as he shot four-for-four in the third. Barbeau played tight defense enabling two steals and forcing pressure on the Gryphons, but Guelph continued to tighten Western’s lead as the Gryphons outscored the Mustangs 19-12. The Mustangs held onto the 48-37 lead as they headed into the final quarter.

Quinn Henderson got on the scoreboard early in the fourth quarter, draining a long three ball and did the same with just over two minutes remaining in the game. Despite the ongoing offensive excellence by Gryphon Michael Petrella, who ended the game with 32 points, a series of fouls and steals against the Gryphons allowed Wedemire, Barbeau, and the Mustangs to continually extend their lead. Guelph’s defense could not contain Wedemire as he had 11 in the fourth, 27 in total, as Western defeated the Gryphons.

“When we play Guelph it is always a touch and grab, grind it out game, but we expected that,” said Wedemire on the win against Guelph. “We’re starting to come together and live up to our reputation.”

The Mustangs will travel to Hamilton on Feb.9 to take on the McMaster Marauders

Game Day: Guelph 3pm Alumni Hall

Today's game features a special tribute at half time to the 1991 Mustangs National Championship Team memebers

Western Gazette article from last night's 70-69 win over Brock

For article Click Here

Thurs. Feb. 5th Game Day Program

Mustangs 70 Brock 69

Report by Andrew Simpson - Mustangs Athletics

LONDON, Ont. - The Western Mustangs held on to beat the Brock Badgers 70-69 at Alumni Hall on Thursday night. 

With the win the Mustangs improve to 8-9 on the season as the Badgers fall to 8-9 as well.

Andrew Wedemire led the Mustangs with 22 points, including a perfect 12-12 from the foul line, eight rebounds and three assists. Ryan Barbeau had 18 points on 3-of-4 from three-point range while picking up seven rebounds.

Peter Scholtes and Marcus Barnett were the other Mustangs getting to double figures in scoring adding 12 and 10 points respectively. 

The Mustangs got off to a strong start playing tight defence on the Badgers and forcing them to just 3-of-14 shooting for the first quarter. Western held an 18-8 advantage on Wedemire's seven points, including five from the charity strike.

The second quarter went the exact opposite way for the Mustangs. The Badgers tightened up their defensive pressure and foul trouble for Barbeau kept him on the bench for half the quarter. Brock outscored the Mustangs 18-10 in the quarter and the Mustangs went into half with a slim two point lead.

Western and Brock battled back and forth in the third quarter as the teams both got into more of an offensive rhythm. Brock outscored the Mustangs 24-22 in the quarter and the teams were knotted at 50 apiece to enter the final frame.

The fourth quarter came down to the final possession as the Mustangs clung to a lead in the final minute. With the score 67-64 Barbeau went 1-for-2 from the line and Brock's Andrew Kraus drove the lane for a quick two to make it 68-66 Mustangs with 14.9 seconds left.

Brock was forced to foul and Barbeau went back to line and hit both of them to make it a two-possession game at 70-66 with 13.5 seconds remaining.

Kraus hit a three with 6 seconds left to make it 70-69 and Barbeau was sent to the line again and missed both. The ensuing rebound took a few seconds for Brock to corral and they could only manage a half-court shot at the buzzer that fell short.