TORONTO – “We will be the number one team on Monday, no ifs, ands, buts or maybes. Not being arrogant or cocky but I think our guys deserve it,” said head coach Patrick Tatham to sideline reporter Nico Canavo immediately following the Ryerson Rams 87-80 victory over the No. 1 Ottawa Gee-Gees on Saturday night at Coca-Cola Court.
BOXSCORE
Barring any surprise from the selection committee, the Rams should be the new No. 1 team in the CIS when the rankings are released on Tuesday morning.
It was a back and forth affair all night long and following a two minute stretch of incredible shot making from both teams, and the Rams holding an 82-80 lead with 38 seconds remaining on the clock, JV Mukama and Manny Diressa teamed up to make the game sealing play.
With Ottawa's leader Mike L'Africain (5-16, 14 pts) trying to drive to the basket and Diressa guarding him, Mukama poked the ball free, which led to a fast break in which Gee-Gee big man Vikas Gill committed an intentional foul on Diressa, giving the Rams two free throws and possession.
“He had been playing well all night long, and I knew he was either going to try to get to the paint or set up a three for Vikas (Gill). So I stunted and knew he was either going to give it up or I was going to get a steal, and then he turned and I poked it away at the last second,” said Mukama on how he played L'Africain in the waning seconds.
Diressa went on to make one of two, and then was fouled on the ensuing possession and made both to cap off his scoring exhibition of a game high 29 points off of 9/16 from the field and 4/8 from beyond the arc.
“It felt good since I've been in a slump lately, and it was a big game for the team and a lot of the guys that have been here for a while. I just took what I saw and what the defence was giving me and made plays from there,” said Diressa on how he felt being the driving force in the biggest game of the season.
Following a Brandon Robinson miss on the other end, Mukama grabbed the rebound and was fouled. He calmly stepped to the line and made both free throws to squash any chance of a Gee-Gee comeback.
“If you go back on the replay, you can see me pointing to the sky and I just thanked God. This is the first time Ryerson (could have) a No. 1 team in the country, and yesterday we broke the drought of 16 years against Carleton. So I'm happy for coach PT and Jahmal (Jones) even texted me after, so yeah we're happy,” saaid Mukama on the team's mood following this historic win.
The do it all guards Aaron Best and Adika Peter-McNeilly had strong performances as well in the win. Best finished with a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds and Peter-McNeilly scored 12 points of his own while grabbing five rebounds and dishing out three assists.
Following this program-defining weekend, the Rams will hit the road next weekend to take on the Laurentian Voyageurs on Friday and the Nipissing Lakers on Saturday.
