UNIVERSITY BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS: Unbelievable upset:
Western outscores defending OUA champion Lancers 18-10 in second quarter to win 77-71 in OUA West Semi-Final
 

With the win, the Mustangs advance to OUA West final against Brock on March 1
 

WINDSOR, Ont. - The Western Mustangs made history, upsetting the OUA West's best squad, the Windsor Lancers, 77-71 at the St. Denis Centre in the OUA West semi-final. Western will now play the Brock Badgers for the OUA West championship on March 1 at 2 p.m. in St. Catharines, Ont.
 

The Lancers were miserable with their shooting game, going 5/29 during a stretch from the start of the second quarter to midway through the third frame. Jason Milliquet was once again lethal from three-point range, going 6-10 from outside the arc for a team-high 22 points. Matt Curtis had 16 points and 11 assists for Western, while Colin LaForme had an impressive 13-point, 12-rebound game.
 

For fifth-year forward Adam Ruickbie, it was some redemption to cap off his career against the Lancers.

"It was an unbelievable way to keep my career going," the graduating forward said. "It's just such an unbelievable feeling to beat Windsor in their gym. The last time we beat Windsor was in exhibition in my first year in Chatham." The forward was a big force defensively in the fourth quarter, cooling a red-hot Lancers run to start the fourth quarter and keep Western close. "This is by far the best game I've ever been a part of."
 

The Lancers had four fifth-year players and one fourth-year player - on paper the experience should have carried them to the expected win. But Brad Campbell recruit Alex Brzozowicz hit a three with under a minute remaining to give Western the 75-71 lead and start the clearing of the exits in a packed, pro-Windsor crowd. "It's extremely exciting," said Brad Smith, who had a relatively quiet game with six points and five rebounds for Western. "We did what we had to do. We beat the best tem in the OUA West." "They had a lot of pressure on them as the defending champions. We just came in and played our game."
 

It was all Windsor, as expected, in the opening quarter as the defending OUA champions built leads of 15-7 and 20-11 before closing out the first quarter with a 23-19 edge. But Western clawed back to pull within three when rookie guard Ryan Barbeau hit a clutch shot early in the second quarter. The Mustangs went on a 13-4 run early in the second quarter to lead 35-30. They never looked out of control for the rest of the game.
 

Western, which had lost the last four meetings with Windsor under the guidance of coach Bradley Campbell in his two-year tenure, led 37-33 at the half. The Lancers were on a 3/15 shooting funk in the second quarter. In the third quarter, the Mustangs built a quick 42-33 lead and led by as much as 11 after a Curtis deuce. Windsor got into foul trouble with graduating forward Rich Allin picking up his fourth foul in the final three minutes of the quarter. But as expected, the Lancers fought hard for their home fans. With the score 51-46 after three frames, Windsor took their first lead of the half just under two minutes into the fourth to lead 54-53 with senior Greg Surmacz coming to life.  He was cold in the opening half, shooting 5/10 for 11 points. But he finished with a game-high 25 points and 13 rebounds and scored six points early in the fourth to give Western headaches.  But a crucial timeout call by Campbell allowed Western to recollect.
 

LaForme and Ruickbie made life difficult for star Kevin Kloostra in the paint. He was held to just one point in the first quarter but came to life with 16 second-half points. With 11 different lead changes, the Mustangs had to fight. The Windsor squad didn't make it easy. But with Western picking up their first career playoff win over the Lancers, it was a well-earned victory, crucial for Western's future as a powerhouse franchise.

Campbell, in his second year, looks to have built a dangerous squad. New recruits this season accounted for 27 of the team's points, while he was able to get Andrew Wedemire out of his funk in the past two games and help him through injury to contribute six rebounds and a strong defensive effort.

Western outscored Windsor 18-10 in the second quarter, 14-13 in the third and 26-25 in the deciding frame.