The University of Toronto Varsity Blues men’s and women’s basketball teams host the Ottawa Gee-Gees and Carleton Ravens this weekend (January 15-16) at the Athletic Centre Sports Gym.

The Blues take on the Gee-Gees on Friday night and the Ravens on Saturday. Women’s tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m., with the men to follow at 8 p.m. on both days. All four games will be streamed live through SSN Canada - the game links can be found at www.varsityblues.ca.

With a record of 6-4, the No. 10 Varsity Blues men’s team is tied with the Queen’s Gaels for third place in the OUA East division. The Blues went 0-2 in regular-season action against the Gee-Gees last year, falling 80-72 on both Jan. 10 and Feb. 6. Ottawa also defeated Toronto 96-81 in OUA quarter-final action on Feb. 28. U of T was winless versus Carleton in 2008-09, dropping an 81-68 decision on Jan. 9 and falling 74-54 on Feb. 7.

Fifth-year guards Nick Magalas (Burlington, Ont.) and Rob Paris (St. Catharines, Ont.) lead the Blues with 14.60 and 16.12 points per game, respectively. Magalas is 21 points away from reaching his 1000th career point. Paris is not far behind, needing 46 points to reach the same milestone. Third-year forward Drazen Glisic (Sarajevo, BIH) leads the team in rebounding with 9.10 boards per game.

The No. 9 Ottawa Gee-Gees are in second place in the OUA East with an 8-2 record. Josh Gibson-Bascombe (Toronto) leads the Gee-Gees and is ranked fifth in the OUA, averaging 19.7 points per game. He was named the OUA athlete of the week (Jan. 4-10) for his combined 59 points in wins over the York Lions and Laurentian Voyageurs last weekend.

The defending CIS champion Carleton Ravens sit atop the OUA East with a 9-1 record. Fifth-year forward Kevin McCleery (Ottawa, Ont.) leads the No. 2 Ravens, averaging 17.9 points per game. McCleery is second in the country with a 64.2 FG%.

The Varsity Blues women’s team is 5-7 and tied for fourth place with the Laurentian Voyageurs in the OUA East.

The Blues went 2-0 against the Ottawa Gee-Gees in the 2008-09 regular season with 61-50 (Jan. 10) and 67-61 (Feb. 2) victories. However, the Gee-Gees came through in the end, defeating the Blues 68-55 in the 2008-09 OUA East final on Feb. 25. Toronto also went 2-0 versus the Ravens last year, defeating them 64-57 on Jan. 9 and 74-71 on Feb. 7.

Fourth-year forward Nicki Schutz (Toronto) is currently ranked fourth in the OUA, averaging 17.92 points per game and third in the CIS with 10.50 boards per game. Toronto native Joanna Medri and Erin McNeely of Kingston, Ont. are second and third in team scoring, averaging 8.7 and 8.9 points per game, respectively.

Head coach Michèle Bélanger is one victory away from her 700th career-win at the University of Toronto.

The Ottawa Gee-Gees are 7-4 and tied with the Ryerson Rams for third place in the East division. Third-year centre Hannah Sunley-Paisley of Toronto currently leads the OUA and is ranked fifth in the CIS with 18.82 points per game. Sunley-Paisley also leads the CIS with 10.9 boards per games.

The East-leading Carleton Ravens are alone atop the division with an 8-3 record. Ottawa native Alyson Bush leads the Ravens, averaging 12.27 points per game, while Ashleigh Clearly (Kemptville, Ont.) averages 10.3 points per game. Fifth-year forward Ines Jelic (London, Ont.) has established her presence under the net, averaging 8.9 boards per game.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for youth and non-U of T students, U of T students and children 12 and under are free. Advance sales are available through http://www.ticketbreak.com or by calling 1.866.9.GET TIX (943-8849).

For more information, scores and highlights on your favourite Toronto teams, please visit the home of the Varsity Blues at http://www.varsityblues.ca.