The University of Ottawa Gee-Gees took home their third straight Capital Hoops Classic win on Friday night. Injuries held back the Ravens to allow a 21 point deficit and a consistent lead throughout the entire game.
Without Aubrey Dorey-Havens and Emmanuel Milon, two of Carleton’s leading scorers, getting points was in the hands of MJ Okado, who finished the game with a mere 12 points.
Dorey-Havens averages 14 points per game and Milon averages 12. The two of them both sitting for this game was detrimental.
Injury was the word of the night for the Ravens when at the beginning of the 4th quarter, Louth-Mohamed Coulibaly left the game, and never returned. He hurt his knee, and is now considered day-by-day.
So with three major Carleton players sitting idle on the sideline, Ottawa had their shot take advantage and prove that there is more than one renowned basketball program and the country’s capital.
“We know Carleton’s missing basically their entire starting line-up with injuries, so we’ll take the win […] but it’s tough to take too much from that win,” said Ottawa Head Coach James Derouin after the game.
The Gee-Gees led by as many as 24 points throughout the game, and by as little as two in the first quarter. But it was obvious in the first quarter that the short-handed Ravens were not going to be able to take this one, especially with the sharp-shooting abilities that UOttawa has.
In the first quarter, UOttawa held Carleton to only 13 points, seven of those coming from Laurentian transfer Cedric Mbiaba. While it was a tough loss for Carleton, Mbiaba played his best game all season, at his first and last Capital Hoops.
The fifth year from Ottawa averages seven points per game, and already had that when the buzzer rang to end the first quarter. He ended the game with 13 points and nine rebounds.
UOttawa however was sharing the wealth when it came to getting buckets. Many of their players ended the game in double digits.
The fifth year Brock Newton, playing in his last Capital Hoops of his university career, ended the game with 11 points and five rebounds.
“He’s had an amazing career here, I think he’s top 10 in scoring, rebounding and assists for our program,” said Derouin when asked about Newton’s legacy. “We’re gonna ride him until his wheels come off really here in the playoffs.”
“He’s an all-time great of our program, we’re thrilled that we’ve had him,” continued Derouin.
Alec Phaneuf and Owen Kenney, however, both proved that once Newton is gone, UOttawa will stay a strong team. They both ended the game with double digit points, Phaneuf with 11 and Kenney with 13.
The Capital Hoops trophy will be sitting in Mont Petit Hall on UOttawa’s campus for at least another, and Carleton will be looking to come-back in the playoff with a fully healthy roster as both teams finish up their final regular season games.
Both teams are battling for the first place spot in the OUA East.
