The Ryerson men’s basketball team narrowly won its home opener game against the University of Toronto Varsity Blues Wednesday night.
The game was a roller-coaster that ended with a final score of 85-84.
The Rams’ early dominance in the BIA cup game was put in jeopardy after the second period when their 45-31 lead turned into a neck and neck battle with the Blues, ending the third period with a 58-56 lead.
The last period turned into a scramble to get points, leaving the packed crowd loud and on the edge of their seats.
The Rams milked the last few seconds for some epic points, just barely landing them a victory.
“That was a good win but it should never have even came down to that,” said interim head coach Patrick Tatham.
“The plan was to just put our two tallest players on the ball and hope for a lob pass, or a deflection — which we got, a deflection — and hopefully run out and get a basket,” Tatham said about the last play. “We were hoping for a steal and we got the steals. Thank God we got the steals and it just worked out in our favour.”
Last year, the men’s basketball team won bronze in the national Canadian Interuniversity Sport tournament, making it the season its best yet.
The team this year faces the challenge of returning to that former glory despite having a new head coach and losing senior players from last season. Not to mention the fact that fourth-year guard Aaron Best and third-year forward Adam Voll are out due to injury.
But some players are hopeful for the season ahead.
“If we can win all our home games on our home-court and defend our home-court we know we have a great shot at getting back there,” said senior forward Juwon Grannum.
This article was published in the print edition of The Ryersonian on Nov. 11, 2015.