A back-to-back home stint yielded mixed results for the young Carleton Ravens men’s basketball team Jan. 26 and 27 at the Ravens’ Nest.
Despite a strong effort, Carleton could not pull off the upset in their 86-74 loss to the Laurier Golden Hawks.
Carleton balanced the loss with a dominant 92-67 win over the Waterloo Warriors the following night.
Although the Ravens demonstrated flashes of sharp play against Laurier, they were in a perpetual catch-up phase throughout the match. They struggled with free throws and turnover woes.
This was quickly addressed against Waterloo, who entered the game with a five-game losing streak. Despite a rocky first half, the Ravens found their wings and soared to a decisive victory. Aggression and rebounding helped secure a win, along with the resurgent play of first-year guard Xavier Spencer.
Heading into the first of the two games, Laurier entered the game atop the OUA West standings with a 13-2 record.
The Golden Hawks stole the opening tip from Carleton and imposed themselves immediately. Their quick and seamless play reinforced their top record in their division. Laurier’s ability to create points off turnovers proved to be a key weapon in their deep arsenal of tricks, aiding them to a 12-5 run to start.
The Ravens leaned heavily on first-year guard Daniel Smith in the first quarter, as he scored seven points in the first 10 minutes.
A tight first frame was encouraging, but Laurier guard Taye Donald helped swing the momentum in the Golden Hawks’ favour, highlighted by a heavy one-handed dunk to make the score 26-22 for Laurier.
The second quarter began with a three-point shot from Carleton guard Marjok Okado, which narrowed the Ravens’ deficit to just one point. This would ultimately be the closest the score got as the Golden Hawks started to run away.
Laurier was extremely effective in maximizing their close-look chances, while Carleton failed to reciprocate on their open looks. Laurier’s shooting launched them to a 12-point lead, sucking the energy out of the Nest.
This couldn’t deter the Ravens from giving Laurier their all through effective defence and physical resiliency, which cut the lead to seven as the teams closed out the half with a score of 46-39.
In the second half, Carleton guards Nathan Christopher and Wazir Latiff and forward Augustas Brazdeikis were integral to keeping the score close as they challenged an aggressive and sharp Laurier team.
The Golden Hawks’ depth allowed them to go down the line and use the hot hand to their advantage, whilst playing strong and cohesive team basketball. Carleton trailed 68-60 heading into the final quarter.
The final quarter distinguished the gulf between Laurier and Carleton as the Ravens proved unable to keep up.
The prowess of Laurier’s Donald was eye-popping, who finished the night with 24 points at an efficient 53 per cent clip while dishing out six assists. His work on both ends put Carleton through the spin cycle, as they couldn’t go toe-to-toe with his consistency.
“The reality of the situation is that as we go farther into the season, good teams are going to make you do things that you don’t want to do,” Ravens head coach Taffe Charles said. “You gotta be good enough and have enough skill and confidence to recognize switches, changes and different scenarios.”
A score of 86-74 was the final tally in this competitive yet disappointing loss.
Jan. 27: Spencer carries Carleton past Waterloo
Matching up against the floundering Warriors the next night proved to be an apt test for the Ravens to get themselves back in rhythm.
Carleton lacked offensive firepower early on until Spencer took the game into his own hands. His and Okado’s early work prevented a hungry Waterloo team from running up the lead. A tied 17-17 first quarter was a relief considering the Ravens’ frustrating play, but momentum had shifted.
This shift continued into the second quarter, where Carleton found some offensive consistency.
However, Waterloo responded with a barrage of three-point shots. They relied on their size and physicality to bully their way to decisive rebounds, and-one opportunities and successful free throws.
The Ravens also imposed their will in both paints by out-rebounding the Warriors 37-19 throughout the game, 11 of which came off the offensive glass. This gave Carleton a one-point lead heading into the half.
A key part of Carleton’s success was their stellar halftime adjustments and ability to follow through with their own game.
Llorin was up to 23 points at the start of the second half and eventually finished with 36. His scoring output was countered by Spencer, who single-handedly shaped the Ravens’ second-half rout with his three-pointers and drives.
Contributions from forward Noah Horobetz-Simpson and guard Aubrey Dorey-Havens further propelled the Carleton offence.
Carleton continued their exceptional play until the final whistle. Spencer finished the game with 27 points, breaking his personal single-game points record.
“If [Spencer] doesn’t play well, we don’t win,” Charles said bluntly postgame.
Charles said Spencer was disappointed with how he played against Laurier and looked to improve with a short turnaround. He was the driving force behind the team’s victory against Waterloo.
After the back-to-back games, Carleton prepares for their highest-profile regular season matchup against their cross-town rival uOttawa Gee-Gees in the 2024 Capital Hoops Classic.
uOttawa is one of the best teams in the country, presenting a unique challenge for the young Ravens squad. The game tips off Feb. 2 at TD Place Arena at 8 p.m.
Featured image by Anya Swettenham/The Charlatan.
