The Carleton Ravens men’s basketball team ended 2014 with another win by a score of 91-73 against the Ryerson Rams.
Going into the game, Carleton leads the Canadian Interuniverity Sport (CIS) with a perfect 8-0 record, while remaining the top-ranked team in the nation.
The Rams experienced their first loss of the season at the hands of the number two ranked University of Ottawa Gee-Gees the previous night.
Assistant coach Kevin Churchill said, as a result, the Ravens had to make sure they put to use skills learned in practice.
Ryerson opened the scoring within the first minute of play. Connor Wood put the Ravens on the board with two three-pointers within minutes of each other, putting the Ravens ahead 6-4.
Wood credits his teammates for setting up good shots that he could capitalize on.
The lead was short-lived, however, as the Rams tallied a field goal to tie the game.
The Ravens responded and put together a 10-0 run to put them ahead 16-6 with under five minutes to go in the first.
Ryerson managed to put together a couple of field goals to tighten the score, but a pair of three-pointers by Victor Raso put the Ravens up 21-13.
By the end of the first, Raso would tally for a total of 12 points, and the Ravens led 29-15.
In the second quarter, Ryerson tried to close the gap, but Carleton kept the baskets coming, making the score 39-25 with five minutes left in the quarter.
Within the last two minutes of the first half, the Ravens pulled further ahead with two three-pointers from Wood and a buzzer-beater from Philip Scrubb to make the score 50-33 at the half.
The Ravens continued to widen the gap in the third with a field goal by Thomas Scrubb and a three-pointer by Victor Raso. Ryerson tried a couple of times to close the gap, but the Ravens’ offence responded by keeping a 20-point lead throughout the quarter.
Into the final quarter, the Ravens maintained a lead of at least 18 points until the final buzzer sounded.
Over the break, Wood said he wants to work on defense and rebounds, skills Churchill agreed the team needs to work on.
Throughout the game, Ryerson dominated on the free throw, a result of Carleton drawing plenty of fouls.
After the break, the Ravens get back into action against their cross-town rivals, the Gee-Gees on Jan. 10 for the battle of the top two teams, both boasting perfect 8-0 records.
“We’re going to prepare the same way regardless of who we play against,” Churchill said.
