TORONTO — Even before the opening possession, there was a palpable energy that surged through the Mattamy Athletic Centre. With the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold men's basketball team welcoming their cross-city rivals for the Metro Hoops Classic, the bleachers were understandably packed from wall to wall and ready to erupt for the evening's first big moment.

When Gabriel Gutsmore found the ball in his hands immediately after the opening tip, the Bold guard raced down a clear runway before taking off for a dunk that resulted in a resounding applause from the raucous crowd. 

That ended up being the perfect catalyst for the Bold's 82-66 victory over the Varsity Blues on Wednesday. 

TMU improved to 16-5 and reclaimed its half-game lead over the Brock Badges for first place in the OUA Central standings. With the victory, the Bold are 2-0 in Metro Hoops Classic home games. 

The inner-city clash is only in its second year, but the showcase is quickly becoming a stronghold for the Bold and their supporters. For Bold leading scorer Aaron Rhooms, this isn't a surprise.

"The TMU community shows up," said Rhooms. "We're ready to work hard on the floor and put on a show for everybody that comes through." 

With Gutsmore picking up two early fouls, the Bold were forced to go to their bench sooner than expected. But that didn't stop TMU from leveraging the energy of its home crowd to its advantage. After Toronto's Nigel Hylton drove to the basket, TMU big man Aidan Wilson elevated to deny him at the rim. On the ensuing possession, Rhooms ducked underneath the basket and scored to tie the game at 14-14. 

Rhooms finished with a game-high 17 points on 63.6 per cent shooting. 

In an effort to contain the Bold defence, the Varsity Blues went into a zone defence early and often. Toronto is second in the league - only behind TMU - in opponents' field-goal percentage from three. The Bold seemed prepared, evident by the patience demonstrated on several possessions throughout the night. The most prominent examples came when the Bold manufactured a left corner three at the buzzer during both the end of the first and second quarters. 

"It's just about patience," said Rhooms. "Getting those to corners, trying to get a high post touch, and attacking from there." 

Second-year player Kevin Toth also left an impact. He finished with 12 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. He also added two steals and one block to his fantasy basketball-worthy stat line. 

The explosive guard displayed a knack for finding the right time to make his presence felt. With the offence stagnating in the second quarter, a blocked shot led to a Varsity Blues fast break. Before Toronto could capitalize, Toth seemingly materialized out of thin air for the chase-down block. 

When the Varsity Blues went on a 7-0 run during the beginning of the second half, Toth maneuvered his way into the paint for the hoop and the foul. 

"That's where we find success," said Rhooms. "When we focus on the details and stay locked in, things work out." 

Despite maintaining its sizable lead in the fourth quarter, Bold Head Coach David DeAveiro was still passionately coaching his team through their progressions against the zone and urging his players to fight on the glass, particularly on the defensive end. When TMU later drew an offensive foul, the bench exploded with glee. 

"There are always things we can work on," said Rhooms. "With the playoffs coming up, everything has to be sharp." 

The Bold play their regular season finale against the Lakehead Thunderwolves on Feb. 14. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. and students can attend for free with their OneCard.