Dorey-Havens Powers Carleton to Record 18th National Championship

Aubrey Dorey-Havens delivered a dazzling shooting performance with 35 points to lead the Carleton Ravens past the Bishop's Gaiters 78-75 in the championship game of the 2026 U SPORTS Men's Final 8, presented by Student Housing Calgary, Sunday at Jack Simpson Gym. 

The victory secures the W.P. McGee Trophy for Carleton for the 18th time in program history and extends the Ravens' remarkable record in national finals to a perfect 18-0. Carleton finishes the season 27-9 overall (17-5 OUA) and captures its first national championship since 2023. 

Bishop's, the tournament's wildcard entry, closes the season at 25-5 (13-3 RSEQ) after a memorable run to the final. The squad from Lennoxville, Que., was appearing in the national championship game for only the second time in program history. Their lone previous appearance came in 1998, when they captured the school's only national title. With an enrolment of roughly 2,700 students, Bishop's is the smallest school competing in U SPORTS men's basketball, making its run to the final one of the tournament's most compelling storylines. 

The championship matchup lived up to expectations, featuring 15 ties and 18 lead changes as neither side managed to pull away in a tightly contested 40-minute battle. 

Dorey-Havens, named both Carleton's player of the game and the tournament MVP, was nearly unstoppable from beyond the arc. The guard connected on nine three-pointers and added six rebounds and five assists while playing 37 minutes. 

Carleton opened the game with a balanced attack, but Bishop's responded quickly behind sharp perimeter shooting from Reggie-Jean Seraphin and strong inside play from Etienne Gagnon. The Gaiters built their largest lead of the night early in the first quarter, going ahead by seven points before the Ravens gradually chipped away.

Carleton's outside shooting nearly erased the deficit as Bishop's took a slight one-point lead into the dressing rooms at halftime. The third quarter turned into a back-and-forth exchange, with Dorey-Havens catching fire from long range while Bishop's countered through Charles Robert and Yanis Malanda inside.

Seraphin, who finished with 14 points and was named Bishop's player of the game, provided several timely baskets to keep the Gaiters within striking distance. 

Gagnon also delivered a strong performance for Bishop's, recording 15 points and a game-high 14 rebounds, while Robert contributed 14 points and six assists. 

Carleton entered the fourth quarter holding a narrow lead and leaned on Dorey-Havens down the stretch. The guard scored 15 of his points in the final period, including several clutch three-pointers that helped the Ravens maintain their slim advantage. 

Bishop's continued to battle late and closed the gap to a single possession in the final minute, but Carleton converted key free throws to seal the victory. 

Cedric Mbiaba joined Dorey-Havens on the tournament all-star team, while Bishop's Charles Robert also earned all-star honours. The all-star team also included Geoffrey James of Victoria and Aaron Rhooms of Toronto Metropolitan. 

Bishop's returns to the mighty Massawippi shore with the first national silver medal in program history, and their third medal all-time. For Carleton, the victory adds another chapter to one of the most dominant dynasties in Canadian university sport. 

NIKE TEAM PLAYERS OF THE GAME:

• Bishop's: Reggie-Jean Seraphin
• Carleton: Aubrey Dorey-Havens

JACK DONOHUE TROPHY (CHAMPIONSHIP MVP):

• Aubrey Dorey-Havens, Carleton

CHAMPIONSHIP ALL-STARS:

• Aubrey Dorey-Havens, Carleton
• Geoffrey James, Victoria
• Cedric Mbiaba, Carleton
• Aaron Rhooms, Toronto Metropolitan
• Charles Robert, Bishop's