The Carleton Ravens men's basketball team are firing on all cylinders heading into the Capital Hoops Classic this Friday.
Carleton picked up a pair of strong wins over the weekend, beating Lakehead 71-64 before dropping Algoma 91-61 Sunday.
On Friday, the Ravens hosted a strong Lakehead Thunderwolves team that challenged the Ravens from the start. A back-and-forth first quarter saw Carleton lead by three at the break before pulling ahead in the second.
Lakehead would rally in the third, taking the lead in the final minute before Carleton ended the quarter with a jumper from Emanuel Ngo Kana Suzama to put the Ravens up 51-50. The Ravens guards came out firing in the fourth with Aubrey Dorey-Havens and MJ Okado leading the charge. Lakehead battled back to within three before a massive dunk from Suzama made it a 6-point game with 6:19 to play.
Lakehead would push back twice in the final three minutes, making it a two-point game twice before MJ Okado hit a mid-range jumper in the final 25 seconds to put Carleton up for good.
Sunday afternoon's contest in Sault Ste. Marie was less intense, with the Ravens running out to a 21-10 lead in the first quarter. Carleton was well in control by the end of the third, leading 68-37.
The Thunderbirds went 5-9 from three-point land in the fourth quarter, giving themselves life. But it was far from enough as the Ravens responded by shooting 50%, including 8 points from Tyler Brown.
The Ravens now sit firmly in control of the OUA standings with a 16-2 record. Carleton is closing in on securing home court through the playoffs, needing two more wins to reach their magic number of 18.
There's more than a win on the line in their next contest when the Ravens face Ottawa on Friday at the 2026 Capital Hoops Classic.
