By Renata D’Aliesio
Ryerson men’s basketball team is hoping a new game, venue and crowd will make the difference at the East-West Shootout, also known as the OUAA playoffs.
Their opponent will be Laurentian, Canada’s top ranked team.
Ryerson lost 77-61 to Laurentian in their final regular game this past Friday. Coach Terry Haggerty blames poor offence and deafening crowd noise in any other of our games,” said Haggerty. “I am glad we don’t have to go up there again.”
The Rams clinched a playoff birth last Tuesday with an exciting home win over York University. The bleachers were packed with exuberant York fans.
The nationally ranked Yeomen were trashed 86-68 by the Rams.
Coach Haggerty wasted no time getting into the battle, jumping off his chair within the first two minutes, inciting his players and telling them to get their heads in the game.
Ryerson has the hot hand early, with four players nailing six three-pointers in the first long bomb offence and found themselves trailing the Rams by 18 points at the half.
The Rams lost their cool for a while during the second half, arguing petty travelling and double dribble calls.
With 12 minutes left York actually brought the score within two points. But then number 34, Scott Belasco, took over.
As chants of defence cried out from incensed York fans Belasco picked the ball up off a turnover and slammed it through the hoop, drawing a foul. The fourth-year Ryerson student then hoisted the ball into the air with his left arm. While eight minutes still remained in the game Belasco and the Rams had taken complete control.
It’s that type of control Belasco wants to see against Laurentian at Varsity Arena.
“We know we can beat anybody, we just have to play,” says Belasco.
The game takes place this Friday night at 8:30 and Haggerty wants Rye fans to bring lots of noise.
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