WATERLOO, Ont. — The No. 5 nationally ranked Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold men's basketball team put together a complete team performance on Saturday night, cruising to an 80-37 victory over the Waterloo Warriors at the Physical Activities Complex.

From the opening tip, TMU set the tone with its defensive intensity, building an early advantage while getting contributions from every corner of the lineup. The Bold jumped out to a 19-10 lead after the first quarter, holding Waterloo to just four field goals.

Aaron Rhooms sparked TMU's fast start, scoring 15 of his game-high 26 points in the opening quarter. He finished the night shooting 9-of-15 from the field, 5-of-7 from three-point range, and added nine rebounds in limited minutes. Gabriel Gutsmore followed with 11 points and four steals, while Gurdeep Kalsi provided a spark off the bench with nine points, including a pair of three-pointers in the fourth quarter.

TMU continued to control the game in the second quarter, extending its lead to 37-21 at halftime behind steady defence and efficient ball movement. The Bold forced turnovers and limited Waterloo's scoring opportunities, holding the Warriors under 36 per cent shooting through the first half.

The Bold took full control coming out of the halftime break, outscoring Waterloo 25-8 in a dominant third quarter to blow the game open. TMU's defensive pressure stifled the Warriors, who were held to just three field goals in the frame.

With the outcome well in hand, the Bold maintained their defensive standard in the fourth quarter while rotating through their lineup, outscoring Waterloo 18-8 to close out the win.

Aidan Wilson contributed eight points and five rebounds, Deandre Goulbourne added seven points and five boards, while Greg Dorsey and Andrejs Silconoks supplied strong minutes in the paint. The Bold finished with 26 bench points compared to only three by the Warriors.

The 37 points allowed marked the fewest TMU has surrendered this season and the lowest total since an 83-35 win over Waterloo on Nov. 23, 2024.

With the victory, the Bold improve to 15-5 on the season as they head back to Toronto for the Metro Hoops Classic on Wednesday, Feb. 11, against the Toronto Varsity Blues. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. at the Mattamy Athletic Centre. TMU students can attend for free with their OneCard.