The University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's basketball team nearly claimed a second win over a nationally ranked opponent coming up just one point shy in a 71-70 loss versus the No. 4 Western Mustangs on Friday (Jan 23) evening.

Traveling to London to continue a four-game road-trip, the Blues opened the game on a fire with 7-0 run. The excellent ball movement would lead to eight assists on nine made field goals to take a 24-17 at the end of the first quarter. Despite the hot start, Western would recapture their form and recapture the lead going into the half. Though both teams kept up the physical play in the third, Toronto pushed back in the fourth with 14 points in the paint, while shooting 44 percent from the field compared to Western's 28 percent. A tied game with just 10 seconds remaining, the Mustangs hit a clutch free throw that sealed the narrow win.

The Blues had four players in double figures tonight, led by fourth-year centre Nigel Hylton with a 17 point, 11 rebound double-double, while adding four steals. Third-year forward Simeon Jeffers notched 15 points and seven rebounds, while second-year guard Nathan Bureau added 14 points and three rebounds. Fourth-year centre Ryan Rudnick put up 13 points and seven rebounds, shooting 50 percent from the field, and second-year guard Michael Reiss contributed eight assists and five rebounds. 

Western was led by Joe Baggaley-Lacerte with 15 points and six rebounds, shooting 50 percent from the field, while Matteo Zagar notched a 14 point, 10 rebound double-double.

Up next, the Blues close out their road-trip in Windsor on Saturday (Jan 24) afternoon versus the Lancers. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m., with the game available to stream on OUA.tv.