The Carleton Ravens men’s basketball team continued their undefeated season with wins over the University of Toronto (U of T) Varsity Blues and the Ryerson Rams.
The Ravens got off to a hot start against Toronto, coming out to a 26-2 lead before finishing on top, 97-53.
The team was led by solid guard play from Yasiin Joseph and Munis Tutu as Emannuel Owootoah didn’t play.
Joseph found Tutu for a three-pointer to make it 3-0. Joseph hit a jumper as Carleton got ahead by nine points before two free throws by Toronto’s Daniel Johansson. Those would be the U of T’s only points of the quarter.
Tutu (nine points), Joseph (16) and Cam Smythe (seven) led the way offensively, as the Ravens ran up the score. Smythe’s three-pointer was followed by layups by Joseph and Tutu.
Eddie Ekiyor returned to action after sitting out the previous week recovering from post-concussion syndromes. He tipped in a Raven’s missed layup by Marcus Anderson to make it 22-2.
By the end of the second quarter, the lead was a massive 51-16 and the result decided.
The Ravens let up slightly as the Varsity Blues scored 37 points in the final two quarters but matched that with 46 of their own.
The Ryerson Rams would prove a tougher opponent, as they gave Carleton problems early in a rematch of the last two Ontario University Athletics (OUA) finals, both of which were won by Ryerson. Carleton was able to come out on top 84-61.
Ammanuel Diressa, who notched 41 points in Ryerson’s previous win against the University of Ottawa (U of O) Gee-Gees, sent the ball to JV Mukama for a corner three. Mukama also hit a jumper to make it 5-2.
However, Carleton went on a run from there, as Joseph hit a three and Smythe put in a Tutu miss to make it 9-5. The teams continued to trade baskets, including numerous three-pointers.
Ryerson’s Roshane Roberts hit a three to cut the lead to 23-18, and so did Diressa. Carleton answered with deep shots by Stanley Mayambo and Tutu.
The Rams went cold from beyond the arc, as Carleton capitalized to push the game out of sight. Tutu dished to Smythe for three– one of his seven assists– to make it 40-25.
TJ Lall and Anderson covered Diressa, leading him to miss a number of shots (he went five-for-18 in the game). Lall also chipped in offensively with a layup to make it 48-25.
Every time the Rams would make a comeback, Carleton had an answer. Mukama continued his strong play with five quick points in the third quarter, while Anderson answered with a deep corner three.
Two three-pointers by Joseph helped Carleton end the quarter on top, 65-47.
The Rams would make a final push midway through the fourth quarter. Diressa scored off a steal by Myles Charvis, and a Filip Vujadinovic three-pointer had the margin down to 65-55. Carleton coach Dave Smart promptly called timeout.
Quick three-pointers by Tutu and Joseph dashed Ryerson’s hopes. Tutu found Ekiyor as he slammed home an emphatic dunk to make it 73-57, leading to a Ryerson timeout.
“I try to use all five guys on the team cause I know he’s a hard guy to focus on,” Anderson said of guarding Diressa, who finished with 20 points and six assists.
Anderson usually draws the toughest defensive matchups for Carleton.
“I try to communicate and know where everyone else is going to be on the court,” he said. “When I know where everyone else is, I know where to force him, where my help’s going to be at, so it makes my job easier.”
Anderson said the team has a lot of potential that they haven’t met, yet.
“Our defence really came together, but we still got some stuff to work on,” he said. “We have some lapses we need to get over and once we become more consistent, we’re going to be a lot better.”
The Ravens will take on the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees at the Capital Hoops Classic on Feb. 2.
Photo by Trevor Swann
