By Keith Doucette
THE CANADIAN PRESS
HALIFAX -- The top-seeded Carleton Ravens are once again Canadian university men's basketball champions, rolling over the previously undefeated Calgary Dinos 83-49 in the national final in Halifax.
The Ravens were propelled to their 14th title since 2003 through superior shooting and rebounding and a relentless defence that stifled the Canada West champs who were going for their second consecutive W.P. McGee Trophy.
Carleton, which has now won eight of the last nine titles, was paced by fourth year guard Yassiin Joseph's 20 point performance. Guard Munis Tutu chipped in 18 points while player of the game Eddie Ekiyor scored 12 points and hauled in 15 rebounds.
Ekiyor was also named tournament MVP.
The Ravens had a 40 per cent field-goal percentage for the game while Calgary was held to just 25 per cent.
Fifth year point guard Mambi Diawara was top scorer for the Dinos with 13 points.
The Ravens raced off to a 9-0 lead and never looked back in the much anticipated matchup of the tournament's top two seeds. They managed to hold the Dinos without a field goal for the first eight minutes of the game.
Two three-pointers in 40 seconds ended the drought for Calgary, which managed to close within seven points by the end of a quarter that saw Carleton with a 20-13 lead.
But that was as close as the Dinos would get as Carleton stretched its lead in the second quarter behind the hot shooting of Tutu, who lead all scorers with 16 points in the first half. The Ravens held the Dinos to just 10 points and headed to the dressing room with a 44-23 lead.
The second half proved no different as the Ravens poured in another 39 points.
Carleton went 22-1 on the season and reached the final in Halifax by squeezing past host Dalhousie Tigers 76-65 in the semi and drubbing No. 8 Alberta 100-60 in the quarterfinal.
The only loss suffered by coach Dave Smart's team came at home in late January when the Ravens dropped a 78-74 decision to Ryerson.
The Dinos were attempting to cap off a season that saw them go 26-0 during the regular season and playoffs.
Ryerson defeated Dalhousie 84-66 earlier Sunday to capture the tournament's bronze medal.