Box Score The Varsity Blues men’s basketball team fell 89-85 to the Ryerson Rams on Friday, February 3 at Kerr Hall Gym.

The win keeps Ryerson (10-8) in third place in the OUA East, while the Blues (7-11) maintain their fifth-place standing.

Fifth-year forward and Burnaby, B.C., native Andrew Wasik led the Blues with 25 points and eight boards, while Alex Hill had 23 points on the night.  Drazen Glisic registered 13 points a team-high nine boards in the loss.

The Rams jumped on the Blues early in the contest, taking a 10-2 lead early in the first. Toronto would rebound to make up some of the lead, but a big quarter from Ryerson helped them take a 21-14 lead into the second.

The Blues were more prepared for the second, going shot for shot with Ryerson and keeping the lead to single digits five minutes through the period. Alex Hill heated up, dropping 13 points in the first fifteen minutes of the game to help Toronto keep pace.

The teams would go into the halftime break with the game notched at 37-37. Jordan Gauthier and Hill led their teams with 13 points each. Ryerson shot a formidable 53% in the first half compared with 40% for Toronto, but still found themselves without the lead heading into the third.

Gauthier began the second-half with five-straight points, including a three from the deep corner. Arun Kumar responded with a bucket from beyond the arc, and Drazen Glisic hit a jumper to even the match once again.

But the Rams continued to be potent from the perimeter, as Ola Adegboruwa (Toronto) and Jones (Mississauga) recorded six more points as Ryerson took a 60-52 lead.

Jones picked up a foul and managed to get the shot to go as well, picking up a three-point play to spread the lead to double-digits. He nailed another three and took his team into the final period up 68-58.

The Blues tried to cut into Ryerson advantage, but Jahmal Jones kept making big plays down the stretch to maintain the spread for his team in the fourth. Toronto was within five at the 8:00 minute mark, but Gauthier made a nice run to the hoop to extend the lead.

Toronto brought the game within reach and Glisic would take the ball to the hoop and get fouled with 3.6 seconds left. He missed the first, and made the second to make the score 86-85 Ryerson. Gauthier got put on the line again. He finally connected on his first, and Jones was able to grab the board of the second miss and make good on his two foul shots to seal the win.

Gauthier led all players with 26 points, while Jones added 23 in the win.

The Varsity Blues return to the floor next Friday, February 10 as they host the Laurentian Voyageurs at the Athletic Centre Sports Gym. Game time is set for 8 p.m.

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