By D’Arcy Bagley

The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold men’s basketball team defeated the University of Windsor Lancers 77-68 on Friday night at the Mattamy Athletic Centre (MAC). 

TMU hosted the Windsor Lancers on their banner night. Bold head coach David DeAveiro spoke pregame and reflected on the 2025 team that took home the Wilson Cup.

Second-year Bold guard Fernando De Los Santos opened the scoring with a three pointer, before Windsor’s standout fifth-year centre Luke Grace responded with back-to-back layups. Grace later finished with a game-high 30 points.

The highlight of the opening quarter came midway through the frame, when fifth-year TMU forward Ares Culley-Bremner drove into the paint, throwing down a fierce dunk over a Lancer defender.

“He’s a great player, he understands coverages, understands spacing…and he does a lot for us,” said his teammate, TMU’s fourth-year guard Javier Gilgeous-Glasgow.

This back and forth competition would be the theme of the first quarter, ending the stanza with a narrow 23-18 lead in favour of the home side.

Defence was the story in the start of the second however, as rebounds flew on both sides of the court.

A great offensive rebound from Culley-Bremner led to an and-one layup from De Los Santos on the next possession, continuing on his momentum with a spectacular second quarter statline of 9 points, 1 rebound, and an assist.

The Bold started to get into foul trouble at the end of the second, allowing Windsor to claw back into the game from the charity stripe.

TMU entered the second half up 43-36, with inefficiency plaguing the team at the start of the half, but high-effort defence keeping them ahead.

“When we’re just not making shots…you still have to find a way to compete and be successful,” said DeAveiro when asked about the rocky offensive start to the second half.

Poor passing down the stretch in the third allowed Windsor to climb back into the game, as an errant TMU pass was picked off by the Lancers and converted the other way with an alley-oop finish. 

Second-year TMU guard Nathaniel Savage checked in as the fourth quarter started and this substitution proved to be the key turning point in the game. Savage made an immediate impact on the game, logging 3 points and 2 steals on the first three possessions of the frame. 

DeAveiro had high praise for him postgame, saying, “we can bring him in and he can just change the complexion of the game with his defence and his offence.”

Savage continued this fierce play throughout the rest of the quarter and served as the poster boy for the aggressive TMU defence that helped secure the eventual win. 

In the final minute, Savage drew a foul and sealed the TMU victory by making both of his free throws. The Bold took home the win on an emotional night filled with memories of their unforgettable 2025 season. 

UP NEXT: The Bold take on the University of Ottawa Gee-Gee’s at the MAC. Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m. on Nov. 13.