LONDON, Ont. -  The game wrapped up much like it started, with Western Mustangs forward Andy Wedemire (Sarnia, Ont.) controlling the game. The senior forward fought through early foul trouble, scoring a game-high 19 points, adding eight rebounds in a 79-65 exhibition win over the Rochester Institute of Technology (R.I.T.) Tigers at Alumni Hall on Jan. 3.

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Western enjoyed a 12-point run over a six-minute period in the second quarter to lead by 14 points at the half, 42-28. Wedemire, who picked up two fouls before the midway part of the first quarter, played just nine minutes in the opening half, scored Western's first six points and when on the floor was quite effective.

The Mustangs led 62-42 after the third quarter, but R.I.T. pulled within eight points midway through the fourth quarter thanks to five straight points from Scott Young (Almond, N.Y.) - a trey under pressure and a jumper. Young finished with a team high 12 points but was the only player on R.I.T. in double-digit scoring.

The Tigers bench played very well in the second half, giving them a major lift in the fourth quarter, but Western staved off the run when Wedemire checked back into the game. Along with guard Ryan Barbeau (Belleville, Ont.), Wedemire scored key baskets to stop the R.I.T. run.

The host Mustangs held a 14-2 advantage scoring points in the paint in the opening half, and they outscored the Tigers 24-6 in the paint for the entire game.

Western's David Harder (Copenhagen, Denmark) was solid with 15 points and seven boards, while Garrett Olexiuk (Burlington, Ont.) added 13 points  and eight rebounds. Barbeau finished with seven points and six assists, along with a steal, while Marcus Barnett (Hampton, Va.) had 11 points. Brendan Harder (Oneonta, N.Y.) added 10 boards for the Tigers.

The Mustangs (5-3, T-3rd OUA West) travel to play at Windsor on Jan. 6 at 8 p.m. before returning home to Alumni Hall to host Wilfrid Laurier at 3 p.m. on Jan. 9.