This article first appeared on RyersonRams.ca on Nov. 10, 2013
Link: http://www.ryersonrams.ca/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=22300&ATCLID=209304023
TORONTO – The No. 6 Ryerson Rams put up 28 points in the fourth quarter on Saturday night, defeating the Laurier Golden Hawks 84-70 at Coca-Cola Court.
Ryerson started off by making several shots, while Laurier on the other hand missed a lot of their opportunities. A Peter Campbell timeout near the end of the quarter seemed to change the momentum in Laurier’s favour, and they kept that momentum going into the second frame.
Ryerson was caught making mental lapses, including several violations and a pair of offensive fouls by veteran Bjorn Michaelsen (Otterburn Park, Que.). Laurier started off the quarter by going on a 7-3 run.
“We got sloppy, we didn’t contest, we just didn’t play with the same level of intensity that we need to on the defensive end of the floor,” said head coach Roy Rana. “Just a sloppy quarter and thankfully we cleaned it up in the third and had a very good fourth.”
At the half, Ryerson led the contest 36-30.
The top scorer from the first half was another veteran on the Ryerson offence,Jahmal Jones (Mississauga, Ont.). Jones had 13 points at recess and finished the game with a game-high 22 points in 37 minutes on the court.
Jones wasn’t the only player that played well for Ryerson in the second half. Top scorer from the night before against Waterloo, Jean-Victor Mukama started to light it up from the three-point line. Mukama finished the game by going 3-5 from beyond the arc and had 13 points in the game.
“He’s (Mukama) a big time talent as he gets a little bit more comfortable with the physicality of the play he’s got huge potential to be a great player for us,” said Rana.
Another player with huge potential and that showed it during the third quarter of Saturday night’s game was transfer Kadeem Green (Markham, Ont.). He would finish the night with 20 points and 14 rebounds for a double-double.
Green threw down a couple of huge dunks to get the crowd pumping, but Rana doesn’t feel like he’s reached his full potential yet.
“As dominant as he is, I still think he has another level and we’re going to keep on pushing and pushing him,” said Rana. “He’s very good at this level right now but I think he’s got an opportunity to be so much better and we’re going to keep pushing him to get there.”
Ryerson was able to stave off the red-hot Max Allin. Allin, the top point getter in the OUA last season, finished the game with a team-high 17 points.
With the win on Saturday, Ryerson improves their record to 3-1 but is tied for fourth with Queen’s in a very tight OUA East division.
It’s been quite the week for Ryerson, playing three games with the Syracuse Orange on Tuesday night, and Waterloo and Laurier on the weekend. Rana is pleased with his team’s improvement from last weekend.
“I just thought our compete level was better. Better than the first weekend on the road and you know, I think that’s it. I think we need to be tougher and we have to compete harder and I think we did that this weekend.”
Ryerson will next hit the court at home on Friday, Nov. 15 against the Windsor Lancers (2-2). Game time is set for 8 p.m.