The Carleton Ravens men’s basketball team might just forget what losing feels like.
With an 89-79 victory over the McMaster Marauders on Nov. 23, the Ravens extended their impressive season-opening win streak to nine in the second half of a back-to-back weekend at the Ravens’ Nest.
Carleton opened the weekend with a 61-47 victory over the Guelph Gryphons and followed it up with a competitive, physical matchup against the now 1-9 Marauders.
“When you’re in the position of, I guess the favourite, the other team feels like they gotta throw this kitchen sink at you,” said Ravens head coach Taffe Charles. “And they definitely threw the kitchen sink out with a lot of different looks.”
On his way to 28 points by the game’s end, Ravens forward Augustas Brazdeikis reached double digits in just the first quarter, helping his team start strong in the back-and-forth contest. This was the second game in a row Brazdeikis led the Ravens in points after putting up 16 points against the Gryphons the night before.
Brazdeikis is now eighth in the OUA in points per game with 18.7. Despite his success, Charles said he still sees plenty of room for improvement for the six-foot-eight forward.
“He’s got to play with more of an edge, more of a competitive edge,” Charles said. “That’s probably one of the things that he needs, he knows he needs to work on. He knows he needs to be engaged, he needs to accept conflict and accept physicality and embrace physicality. Tonight, I thought that’s what he did.”
McMaster gradually chipped away at Carleton’s lead as the half drew closer. The Marauders took a 45-42 lead into halftime after forcing eight turnovers in the second quarter.
“I didn’t think we had a good defensive effort tonight,” Charles said. “We’re a relatively young team, and the biggest thing about [a] young team, we don’t communicate very well.”
The close contest continued throughout the third quarter until guard Nelson Cilien evened the score with a three-pointer, giving Carleton a spark.
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The Ravens took advantage of McMaster’s foul trouble to take a 67-57 lead into the final quarter.
The teams were evenly matched in the fourth quarter, each scoring 22 points. Carleton’s 10-point lead from the third frame proved enough to secure the win.
Ravens forward Emanuel Milon and guard Xavier Spencer also had strong offensive performances, scoring 16 and 15 points, respectively.
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Milon, who hit four three-pointers, said the team isn’t focused on their record or the OUA rankings.
“We’re just onto the next,” Milon said. “Every game, onto the next, worried about the next play and next possession because it’s important for us to keep that mindset, keep that focus so that we don’t lose. That’s the focal point.”
Charles said that while the team still struggles with communication, the group took big steps to improve their overall game over the summer.
“The guys know what to expect more,” Charles said. “Guys got leaner, got stronger, knew how long the season was, know how to pace themselves.”
Adding to the atmosphere of the home crowd at the Nov. 23 matchup was the Ravens’ first-ever Teddy Bear Toss, where fans showered the court with stuffed animals after the first quarter. All of the teddy bearswill be donated to the Boys and Girls Club through the Varsity Council Toy Drive.
The Ravens will attempt to push their win streak into double digits on Nov. 30 against the Lakehead Thunderwolves, who are 8-1 and sit in first place in the OUA Central division.
Featured photo by Charles Fortin
