RYERSON 109 – 101 UBC
THUNDERBIRD SPORTS CENTRE — Against the Ryerson Rams Thursday night at UBC, the host Thunderbirds won the tipoff and in front of a buzzing arena, took an instant lead in the quarterfinal of the CIS men’s basketball championship.
Although the game was tied four times, only UBC held the lead, building advantages of 15 and 12 points in the first and third quarters.Ìý
Ryerson came back every time. On the power of outside shooting and the apparent ability to score at will, the Rams finally butted ahead in the second minute of overtime when they put up more points in four minutes than they managed in the entire first quarter.
The No. 1 team at the national collegiate championship knocked off No. 8 in a 109-101 victory.
The hosts burst out in the first quarter on the power of Phil Jalalpoor’s marksmanship and 75 per cent outside shooting average. He finished with 17 points, 7 assists and five rebounds.
Conor Morgan, who finished with 13 points before fouling out in the fourth, extended the Thunderbirds early streak with a two-hand jam that brought fans at the Doug Mitchell arena to their feet.
David Wagner went seven-for-seven in the third to put up 15 points and lift UBC to an eight-point lead at the close of the quarter. He had 22 points when it was all said and done.
Yet, every time UBC pulled away, Ryerson was able to answer. If not immediately, then the Ontario champions bid their time.
UBC led 89-82 with 2:17 to go in the final quarterfinal of the night when Ryerson picked up the full-court press. Down low, Wagner was pressured with triple-team defence and the Rams, who overcame the five-time champion Carleton Ravens to win the Ontario championship, whittled down the lead to come within three points.
Rams guard Jean-Victor Mukama made up for lost time with a devastating three-pointer to tie the game 90-90 but with 25 seconds left, UBC had ample time to put up a shot and secure the lead. The ball in the hands of Jordan Jensen-Whyte, the T-Birds offensive anchor who led them with 25 points, the basket didn’t materialize for the guard as he pushed into the crowded key.
Ryerson had still not led once all night. In overtime, the score stayed deadlocked for the first minute until Ryerson put up a fast string of baskets and took a two-point lead, then a five- and then a seven-point lead. With two minutes left to play, both the Rams and Thunderbirds acted like the game was decided.
Limited to showing no more than two digits on its hockey scoreboard at the arena casually called The Doug, the final result read 09-01. Either way, the numbers spelled the same result. The Rams advance to the school’s first semi-final game in men’s basketball.
In the consolation round, UBC plays the McGill Redmen at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 18. The Ottawa Gee-Gees meet the Thompson-Rivers WolfPack before that at 5 p.m.
The semifinals are scheduled for Saturday with the Rams meeting the Calgary Dinos at 5:30 p.m. Five-time defending champion Carleton Ravens play the Dalhousie Tigers at 3 p.m.
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