Ravens Pre-Season Starts With Narrow Loss
Slow second quarter costs Ravens in 70-62 loss to Bucknell.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
12 | 20 | 23 | 15 | 70 |
|
|
16 | 13 | 20 | 13 | 62 |
Team Stats
Bucknell
| Game Statistics | Bucknell | Carleton |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | (25-66) | (24-77) |
| Field Goal % | 37.9% | 31.2% |
| Rebounds | 28 | 63 |
| Assists | 19 | 12 |
| Turnovers | 10 | 18 |
| Pts off Turnovers | 14 | 12 |
| 2nd Chance Pts | 2 | 16 |
| Pts in the Paint | 18 | 26 |
| Fastbreak Pts | 2 | 0 |
| Bench Pts | 9 | 14 |
OTTAWA - Playing their first NCAA DI opponent since 2023, the Carleton Ravens men's basketball team fell behind in the second quarter and fell just short of a comeback, falling 70-62 to the Bucknell Bison on Monday night.
The Ravens showed off-season rust in the first quarter, shooting under 25% despite leading 16-12 after 10 minutes. Carleton was led in scoring by five points each from Dylan Kayijuka and Tyler Brown, while the Ravens out-rebounded Bucknell 17-10 in the opening frame. Momentum slowed for Carleton in the second quarter as a deep rotation limited the Ravens' productivity.
While Carleton saw their lead slip away in the second, using 12 different players in the quarter meant that Carleton head coach Taffe Charles was able to get a good look at his group. "I want to give every guy an opportunity," explained coach Charles. "I wanted new guys, and guys who red-shirted last year to play."
The Ravens found their stride in the third. After a slow start to the quarter, they began to chip away at the Bucknell lead, coming within six in the dying minutes of the fourth quarter. Tyler Brown led the comeback attempt, scoring 9 points in the third quarter, while Augustus Brazdeikis had a double-double in his Carleton return with team highs in rebounds (10) and points (15). Mark Dike also had 10 rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench, to go along with 4 points. First-year Daniel Duala-Ekoko led all newcomers with five rebounds and six points.
Reflecting on his team's game, coach Charles knows there's work to be done. "We're not there yet as a basketball team, and we're going to work hard towards that."
The Ravens will refocus ahead of their second trip to Baha Mar, where improved off-ball play will be crucial in their success. "We didn't cover the basketball very well, but because we've played a game, going forward now the guys will be more attentive to that."
Carleton will face Arkansas on August 1 at the Baha Mar Summer League in Nassau, Bahamas.
