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MBB: Marcus Upshaw vs. York, Feb. 9, 2022
Photo by Curtis Martin
97
York YORK 1-7, 1-7
100
Winner Ryerson RYERSON 6-3, 6-3
York YORK
1-7, 1-7
97
Final
100
Ryerson RYERSON
6-3, 6-3
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
York YORK 22 25 20 30 97
Ryerson RYERSON 12 28 28 32 100

Game Recap: Basketball (M) | | Christina Flores-Chan

Confidence and control leads Rams to victory against Lions

TORONTO - The Rams men's basketball team is hot right now, carrying over their fall winning streak to Wednesday night's 100-97 victory against the York Lions. 

Controlling the court throughout a plethora of lead changes and a close last quarter, the team demonstrated a sense of comfort in their identity and an improved defensive strategy that showed promise of a potential playoff run.

Rams point guard Ankit Choudhary was quick to open the scoring in the first quarter, but the Lions responded immediately, taking the lead and maintaining it on a 12-point run. A turnover and dunk by the Lions led the Rams to take a timeout late in the quarter, but York led by 10 by the end of first.

Second quarter saw the Rams seeking chances at the net and pushing their way into the paint. Tightening up on defence, the Rams secured rebounds and outscored the Lions, closing up York's lead to only three possessions at the half.

Rams Mouhamed Ndiaye started off the third with a clean three-pointer, followed by a layup and another three from both Aaron Rhooms and Choudhary. Three minutes in, they'd scored 14 points to the Lions' two, and regained, and maintained, the lead. By the end of the third quarter, the Rams led by one point.

Rams veteran Jaaden Lewis hit a three pointer right off the bat in the last quarter, and what followed was a several minute back-and-forth battle for the lead. 
 
With six minutes left, Ndiaye saved the ball from half court, keeping it in bounds, and followed up with a clean and confident three-pointer. After that, the team held the fort down until the very end. Leading by one point with less than a second left, Choudhary closed out the game with two final free throws and the Rams took the win.

"We trained hard to think as a team this first game," Rams forward Rhooms said afterwards. "We trusted one another and were able to close it out."

Rhooms and Choudhary were the top shooters of the night, scoring 25 and 23 points, respectively, but the team was strong in all aspects of the game. Earning 25 assists, 13 steals and 12 points off turnovers, the Rams are covering all bases just in time for the postseason.

"The team is very unselfish; they move the ball and a point for any one of us is a point for all of us," head coach David DeAveiro said.  "We've worked at that and it paid off tonight."

The Rams will finish the series against the Lions this Saturday at Tait McKenzie Centre. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. and you can tune in live at OUA.tv. 
 
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