Ravens Sports Info (Photo: Charles Fortin)
OTTAWA (Nov. 24, 2024) - The Carleton Ravens dug deep over the weekend to pick up a pair of wins and extend their season opening streak to nine games. The Ravens secured a 61-47 win over Guelph on Friday before beating McMaster 89-79 on Saturday.
"The perfectionist in me felt we played better than yesterday," admitted Taffe Charles after Saturday's win. "We are continually showing more signs of execution, more signs of recognition."
Execution didn't come easily for the Ravens at times on Friday night. In a physical game with Guelph the two teams combined for 36 fouls and 45 turnovers. Carleton shot just 29% in the first before finding some rhythm in the second quarter. With MJ Okado (Calgary, Alta.) scoring six points off the bench, Carleton led 31-25 at the break.
Neither team took a lot of shots in the third quarter, a physical grind, Carleton struggled from beyond the arc going just 1-7 while the Gryphons knawed at the lead shooting 47%. Okado continued to drive the Ravens in the fourth as Augustas Brazdeikis returned to his Athlete of the Week form scoring five points in the final quarter.
With a packed Ravens' Nest and Teddy Bears flying after the first quarter for the Varsity Council Toy Drive, Augustus Brazdeikis put on a show on Saturday night battling hard in the paint and scoring a career high 28 points. The Ravens big man was explosive in the first quarter scoring 10 points as Carleton jumped out to a six point lead.
The Ravens struggled with their shooting in the second, hitting just a third of their shots while the Marauders mixed up their systems and heated up to almost 50% shooting to lead by three at the half.
Carleton began taking over the paint in the third quarter as Brazdeikis and Noah Horobetz-Simpson (Winnipeg, Man.) led the way in scoring and Carleton pulled ahead by 10. Coming off the bench for the Ravens, Nelson Cilien was also a spark of energy throughout the game drawing fouls and playing a pivotal role in Carleton's offence with 4 rebounds, 3 assists to go along with 5 points.
Brazdeikis and Xavier Spencer helped put the game away in the fourth quarter, constantly slashing to the lane, the duo combined for 17 of the Ravens 22 points as McMaster had no answer for their physical presence.
The Ravens returned to their impressive paint play Saturday outscoring McMaster 48-22 on Saturday after losing that battle by 2 to Guelph the day before.
Carleton now head north to play Lakehead before facing Ottawa at home on December 4.
