Badgers face No. 1 Ravens in semifinal showdown

The two highest scoring basketball teams in Ontario University Athletics (OUA) clash Wednesday night in Ottawa as the Brock Badgers face off against the No. 1-ranked Carleton Ravens in the OUA semifinals.

The Ravens (91.3 points per game), host the Badgers (87.3 ppg) at 8 p.m. in a game being stream lived on OUA.tv

ABOUT THE BADGERS (16-8):

The Badgers placed second in the OUA West and won back-to-back playoff games over Lakehead (87-83) and Western (89-88) and have come a long way since losing 86-46 at Carleton on Nov. 23.

“Carleton is a very disciplined team defensively, and they capitalize on their opponents’ mistakes,” said Badgers guard Tyler Brown, who scored the game-winner against Western Saturday afternoon. “What we have to do is stick to our game plan. We have to play at our pace, not let them speed us up and we have to execute on both ends of the floor.”

Brock is led by a strong core of senior players consisting of shooting guard Johneil Simpson (20.5 ppg, fourth in OUA), forward Cassidy Ryan (18.3 ppg, 5.8 rebounds per game) and Brown (third in OUA with 5.2 assists per game). Third-year centre Daniel Cayer is fifth in the league with 8.8 rebounds per game.

ABOUT THE RAVENS (22-1):

The Carleton Ravens are currently ranked No. 1 in the country and have dropped only one game this season, a 78-74 home loss to Ryerson, on Jan. 26. Carleton averages 95.3 points per game, however the Ravens are not taking the Badgers for granted.

“We have to prepare for their intensity that they’re going to come out with,” Ravens guard Isiah Osborne told goravens.ca. “They have a lot of fifth years, and this could be their last game if they lose, so we have to be ready for that.”

Carleton’s top scorer, third-year forward Eddie Ekiyor, led the OUA in shooting (63.8 per cent). The Ravens defeated the Queen’s Golden Gaels 80-63 in the quarter-finals on Feb. 23.


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