Basketball: OUA men - Lancers, Rams, Thunderwolves riding winning streaks

This blog post is officially a no-Raven zone. Okay, that may be a bit much, but if you only heard that Dave Smart’s Carleton Ravens (14-0) won both their games this weekend again, would you read on? Okay, don’t answer that.

Anyway, despite the disparities, OUA men's basketball is still pretty entertaining to watch. To boot, the Laurier Golden Hawks (10–4), Lakehead Thunderwolves (11–3), and Ryerson Rams (6–8) joined the Ravens as the week’s undefeated teams, going 8–0 combined.

If someone had challenged me to guess that the Rams were one of the three non-Carleton squads to win their games this weekend, I would have failed miserably. Would you blame me? On top of allowing 82 points a game this season, they are in the bottom half of the league in a slew of offensive categories. But, don’t tell the Rams that. In their now four-game win streak, they have posted more than 80 points three times.

This weekend, they shot down the Queen’s Golden Gaels (3–12) 89–50, in a game where they only allowed 14 points in the second half! Not bad. The team also forced 28 turnovers and 37 per cent shooting. Rams guard Jahmal Jones lead the way with 25 points. The next night, the squad squashed the hapless RMC Paladins (0–15) 81–43, shooting 44 per cent and forcing 24 turnovers.

Meanwhile, the Hawks and Wolves kept stride in a stacked west division. The Hawks went into Guelph and beat Gryphons (5–9) and Mustangs (6–8) handily, 87–75 and 75–67. Forward Kale Harrison went off, scoring 38 and 20 points in each game.

The Thunderwolves had less than comfortable games, but squeaked by the McMaster Marauders (7–7) in their two games in Hamilton. The Friday game, a 78–76 heart-stopper, was capped by fourth year guard Jamie Searle’s 29 point, five-rebound, four-assist performance. The squad shot 43 per cent for the game, and outscored the Marauders 46–43 in the second half.

The second game, a 81–77 victory, was split practically right down the middle. The Wolves won the first and last quarters, and out-rebounded the Hamilton squad 47–34 on the night.
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