RECAP: Gee-Gees drop Capital Hoops matchup against rival Ravens
In a close matchup between two top-ranked teams in the nation, the Gee-Gees men's basketball team were unable to complete a late comeback push, dropping the contest by a 71-58 final margin on Friday night.
The two teams battled neck-and-neck though the early stages of the game, with the Ravens holding a narrow 12-11 lead in a low-scoring start to the night. Carleton's offensive attack came to life in the second quarter, outscoring the Gee-Gees 23-10 to hold a 35-21 lead at halftime.
The second half was a different story for Ottawa, they narrowly outscored the Ravens in the third quarter, however, the deficit was still a significant task to overcome in the final frame. Led by the shooting of Gage Sabean, the Gee-Gees climbed back to within striking distance, but the Ravens held up and secured the 13-point win.
Carleton shot an even 50 per cent from the field, executing with high efficiency, both teams shot around 30 per cent from three on the night, with the Gee-Gees having a slight edge. Carleton significantly outrebounded Ottawa by a margin of 41-20.
Sabean, a fifth-year guard playing in his final Capital Hoops Classic matchup, led the Gee-Gees with a season-high 23 points on six made three-pointers. Fourth-year forward Maxime Boursiquot added 18 points on the night on 8-for-11 shooting.
Following a Gee-Gees win at the 2020 Capital Hoops Classic, the Ravens have reclaimed the title, improving their overall record in the annual rivalry matchup to 12-3 since its inception in 2007. Due to capacity limits, the capped attendance at the Ravens' Nest provided a different energy for the game, however in spite of challenges presented by the past two years, being back to competition took priority over the rivalry.
Up next, the Gee-Gees will host former Gee-Gees head coach David De Aveiro and the surging Rams at Montpetit Hall on Friday (Feb. 25) and Saturday (Feb. 26). Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. on Friday, and 5 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets are available for purchase at tickets.geegees.ca