TORONTO — The road to the OUA men's basketball playoffs is long and treacherous. While it's naive to evaluate a game in early November as a must-win, there was a playoff intensity that permeated within the confines of the Mattamy Athletic Centre (MAC) on this night. 

In a matchup where it felt like every possession was magnified, the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold men's basketball team fell 82-76 to the Brock Badgers on Sunday. 

Perhaps it was fitting that the chilling weather outside the building matched what the province's best teams can expect once the post-season begins in February. At the very least, it served as a counterweight to the fire that both TMU and Brock played with.

With the defeat, the Bold drop to 4-2 this season, with their only missteps coming against the Badgers. 

"I thought we competed the way we needed to compete," said Bold Head Coach David DeAveiro. "We had a lot of open shots that we didn't make, that we normally make." 

Bold guard Aaron Rhooms began the game by knocking down a three from the top of the arc. When Brock's Anthony Heyes later responded with back-to-back triples of his own, it was a sign of the competitive back-and-forth affair that awaited onlookers. 

Midway through the opening quarter, TMU's Darnaz Mabanza, who wears number 23 on his jersey, checked into the game off the bench. Upon noticing this, Badger guard Isaiah Bujdoso yelled out: "We're attacking 23." On the next possession, Mabanza drilled a mid-range jump shot from the left elbow. Later in the quarter, Mabanza exploded to the rim past Bujdoso and finished a left-handed layup while drawing the foul. The exhilarating sequence set the tone for the remainder of the evening. 

Rhooms would hit two of his four three-pointers in the second quarter. The reigning OUA Player of the Year finished with 16 points on 46 per cent shooting. His backcourt partner and the second element to the Bold's two-pronged attack, Kevin Toth, also played an exceptional game. Toth showcased his elite first step when he used a hesitation dribble to beat the defender, launching himself from the left wing to the basket in the blink of an eye. When he elevated to the rim, Toth finished the layup despite getting hacked. 

Both TMU and Brock began the second half by attempting to slow the game down, switching to a 2-3 zone defence. The Bold rarely sees this type of coverage deployed against them because of how efficient Rhooms is as a connector from the high post. Rhooms either scored or forced the defence to collapse before finding an open man, forcing the Badgers to look for an answer elsewhere. 

"That's why we don't see much zone," said DeAveiro. "When Aaron gets to that spot, a zone is going to get punished and it's pretty much a bucket." 

Nearly four minutes into the third quarter, several players from both sides were called for technical fouls after a scramble on the floor for a loose ball. The Bold and the Badgers then proceeded to trade baskets for the next three minutes. 

This was a pivotal moment of the game, and despite the final result, DeAveiro was proud of how his team met the moment. 

"You have to respond to their physicality," said DeAveiro. "If not, they're just going to bully you around throughout the whole game."

"I thought our guys handled that situation really well," added DeAveiro. 

With the third frame drawing to a close, Bold forward Greg Dorsey erased an attempt at the rim, subsequently raising the decibel levels at the MAC. TMU rewarded its big man on the next possession with a touch on the low block. Dorsey was ultimately fouled before hitting one of his two free throw attempts. 

The fourth quarter began with a scoring drought by both teams, perhaps due to a combination of uneasiness on the offensive end and a stout defence on the other side of the court. DeAveiro called a timeout to settle his squad down and they responded by scoring the first five points out of the huddle. 

Unfortunately, the Badgers would respond down the stretch. Brock's timely corner three-pointers and habit for securing defensive rebounds resulted in a lead in the closing minutes. The Bold generated a few open looks late in the contest but couldn't get any of their shots to go down. 

The Bold's next game is against the York University Lions on Nov. 15. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. at the Mattamy Athletic Centre and students can attend for free with their OneCards.