SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. - The Golden Hawks capped off their season-opening weekend series against the Algoma Thunderbirds with their second win on Saturday afternoon by a score of 87-60. The win marked the 17th straight victory over the Thunderbirds. 

Much like Friday night, it was another all-out team effort from the Golden Hawks with 11 players contributing in the points department.  

Unlike Friday, however, Algoma started strong while it was a slower start for the visiting purple and gold as both teams traded buckets for the majority of the first quarter. With the score knotted at 15 just over halfway through the opening frame, Julien Binzangi got to the rim for two, and followed it up with a steal to set up Aidan Whalen for a couple of free throws. 

Turnovers continued to be an issue for Algoma, not just in the first quarter, but throughout the game. Another Thunderbirds giveaway, forced by Malik Langenneger, was taken the other way for the 22-15 lead.  

Nearing the end of the quarter, Noah Ramsbottom, who went 4-6 from three on Friday, drained back-to-back triples to bring Laurier in front 28-19.  

"We started out a little bit flatter today than we did yesterday, but the guys did a really good job of taking that first punch and then getting back to our brand of basketball," manager of men's basketball operations and head coach Cavell Johnson said. 

"Credit to Algoma for slowing us down with their zone press and getting into their zone to knock us off balance early. But I think the guys did a really good job of finding a way to adjust and assert themselves on both ends of the floor." 

Ethan Passley, who went without a steal in the season opener, quickly found himself with consecutive takeaways that put Laurier up 32-22 just three minutes in. Passley had a bounce-back game on Saturday, finishing with nine points, four rebounds, seven assists, and three steals. 

He now sits ninth in Golden Hawks program history in career assists (201) and tenth in career steals (103).  

"It's amazing and it's the maturity in his game, and in the development of his mental approach to the game," Johnson said on his veteran guard. 

"He's taken great ownership of being a facilitator, as a guy who orchestrates and finds others first, and then allows that rhythm to flow into a rhythm of him finding scoring opportunities for himself, as opposed to being a score-first mindset."  

Whalen, too, found his rhythm in the second game of the year. Joshua Loblaw came away with the steal and missed his jumper, but Whalen was out with the mop cleaning up the boards and potted in the put-back two. He went into the break with 19 points and five rebounds.  

M?? Q2, 2:34: Aidan Whalen has 19-POINTS AND WE'RE NOT EVEN AT THE HALF! pic.twitter.com/zUvbMUh0ua

— Laurier Golden Hawks (@WLUAthletics) October 25, 2025

Algoma went on a 6-0 run to end the half, but trailed 50-35. The Golden Hawks had seven turnovers compared to Algoma's 11 and turned those misplays into 17 points. Laurier was also shooting lights out, going 57.6% from the field and 6-11 from distance.  

Whalen stayed hot as he scored seven of Laurier's nine points to open the third quarter as both teams once again exchanged buckets. Loblaw had assists on two of Whalen's three field goals, and continued to be a facilitator, ending the game with a career-high six assists.  

The Golden Hawks were locked in on defense, limiting Algoma to 12 points on 21% shooting, thanks to the 15 rebounds in the frame.  

In the fourth quarter, the Whalen-Passley duo went back to work. Mark Pohner and Passley exchanged missed three-pointers, but Whalen was there each time collecting offensive rebounds. Passley handed off to Whalen and capped off the impressive possession with his fourth made three of the game.  

M?? Q4, 5:43: STILL COOKIN'! pic.twitter.com/zldtEshRMD

— Laurier Golden Hawks (@WLUAthletics) October 25, 2025

Whalen led the charge for the Golden Hawks and finished with his second career double-double, having a career high in points and rebounds with 33 and 13, respectively.  

"He just looked so sure of himself from the very beginning. That's the kind of confidence that we're going to need him to play with. He asserted himself well in the paint, offensively and defensively. He responded well and did a really good job of being confident and playing that way," Johnson said.  

The Golden Hawks also had 40 points in the paint and 20 second chance points. Both areas were in need of improvement coming into this season, and Johnson was impressed with his team's efforts.  

"Especially being a smaller team, not the most physically statuesque, to be able to attack the paint with intention and with purpose says a lot about the guys, the mentality that they play with, whether it be Aidan, Josh, or Ethan. These guys are being violent with their attacks and looking to impose themselves on paint drives." 

Rookie Julien Binzangi also caught his coach's attention with his 10 rebound performance split between six offensive and four defensive boards.  

"He just has a nose for the ball, and it helps that I joke with him that he can palm two basketballs in one hand. But again, this starts with a desire, and he goes after loose balls and rebounds like it's his, and he wants it, and he wants to take it back. If he continues to play with that mindset, he'll find a lot of minutes." 

UP NEXT 

The Golden Hawks return home on October 31 for their home opener against the Waterloo Warriors.  

"We have to focus on us, on continuing to build on some great habits and improve in areas that we dropped the ball this weekend. We have to prepare to guard a lot deeper in a team's roster this upcoming weekend," Johnson said.  

The Battle of Waterloo tips off at 8pm, and tickets are available here.