What a treat this year’s national tournament gave us. Here is a little reflection on this years festivities.
Quarterfinals
From dramatic comebacks to a thrilling championship finish, the U SPORTS Men’s Final 8 delivered a tournament full of high-level competition and memorable moments.
The tournament began with the Victoria Vikes defeating the Calgary Dinos 100–86. Victoria, the defending national champion, established themselves as a serious threat early by using efficient perimeter shooting to control the game. Their explosive second quarter, where they outscored Calgary 31–13, decided the matchup. Victoria’s ability to generate open three-point opportunities demonstrated the offensive depth that made them the Canada West champs once again.
In another quarterfinal, the TMU Bold completed the most impressive comeback of the tournament against the UBC Thunderbirds, winning 97–91. UBC dominated the first half and held an 18 point advantage, but TMU showed composure by gradually closing the gap. Led by Aaron Rhooms, the national player of the year, the Bold relied on offensive momentum in the second half to secure the victory.
The Bishop’s Gaiters defeated the Acadia Axemen 98–85 to advance to the semifinals. Bishop’s established control early through aggressive inside play. Charles Robert, a second-team All-Canadian, delivered a dominant performance with 30 points, helping the Gaiters maintain control despite a push from Acadia in the third quarter.
The final quarterfinal saw the Carleton Ravens defeat the Laval Rouge et Or 85–69. Carleton set the tone early with strong defensive pressure and efficient scoring from Aubrey Dorey-Havens. The Ravens’ depth was a key factor, with their bench contributing 42 points.
Overall, the quarterfinals set up intriguing semifinal matchups and demonstrated how balanced the competition was at the national level.
Semifinals
The semifinals of the U SPORTS Men’s Final 8 featured two tightly contested games that ultimately determined which teams would compete for the national championship.
In the first semifinal, the Carleton Ravens defeated the TMU Bold 58–52 in a defensive battle. Both teams struggled offensively, but Carleton’s dominance on the boards proved to be the deciding factor. The Ravens finished with a significant rebounding advantage, recording 59 boards compared to TMU’s 35, which allowed them to generate valuable second-chance opportunities. Cedric Mbiaba played a crucial role with 19 points and nine rebounds, helping Carleton secure its place in their 18th national championship game.
The second semifinal produced one of the biggest moments of the tournament when the Bishop’s Gaiters upset the top-seeded Victoria Vikes 66–65. The game was extremely competitive, featuring multiple lead changes and strong performances from both teams. Bishop’s displayed remarkable composure late in the game, successfully defending Victoria’s final possession to secure the victory. This win was particularly significant for the Gaiters because it marked their first appearance in the national championship game since 1998, highlighting the team’s impressive postseason run.
These semifinal results created a compelling championship matchup between a historically dominant program in Carleton and an underdog Bishop’s team looking to capture its second national title.
Finals
The championship game between the Bishop’s Gaiters and the Carleton Ravens was the highlight of the tournament and delivered a dramatic finish. The Ravens ultimately defeated Bishop’s 78–75 to capture their 18th national title at the U SPORTS Men’s Final 8.
What made this game particularly compelling was how evenly matched the two teams were throughout the contest. There were 15 ties and 18 lead changes, demonstrating how neither team was able to gain full control. Bishop’s entered the game as the underdog but showed composure against one of the most dominant programs in Canadian university sports history.
The standout performance of the game came from Aubrey Dorey-Havens, the eventual tournament MVP, who delivered an exceptional shooting performance with 35 points. His ability to score from beyond the arc was especially important, as he connected on nine three-pointers and consistently fueled Carleton’s offense. Dorey-Havens also stepped up during the most important moments of the game, scoring 15 points in the fourth quarter to help maintain Carleton’s narrow lead.
Overall, the gold medal game perfectly captured the excitement and competitiveness of the U SPORTS Final 8 basketball championship. It highlighted both the dominance of Carleton’s program and the inspiring underdog story of Bishop’s. The final game served as a reminder of how unpredictable and entertaining national tournaments can be, especially when experienced programs face determined challengers on the biggest stage Canadian university basketball has to offer.
