GUELPH, Ont. - The Guelph Gryphons men's basketball team hosted the 2022-23 defending national champion Carleton Ravens Saturday night (Nov. 4), suffering a tightly-contested 89-84 loss to move to 0-2 to start the 2023-24 season. Leading in the fourth quarter the Gryphons were unable to close the game out for their first win of the season with Carleton outscoring Guelph by 9 to secure their season-opening win. The Gryphons were led by a pair of standout players who both set new single-game scoring bests in Dezayne Mingo and Emmanuel Ansah, who combined for 59 of the Gryphons 84 points. Mingo, the reigning OUA Rookie of the Year, went 9-for-18 from the field, scoring 29 with 7 rebounds, and 8 assists as the sophomore continues his strong start to the campaign. Ansah meanwhile went 9-for-20 with 7 rebounds, 1 block, and 3 steals. 

After being outscored by seven in the opening quarter the Gryphons answered back in a big way, scoring 26 while holding the Ravens to just 15. In the third, the two teams were level in scoring but the Gryphons would head into the final quarter with a four point lead over the defending champs. Despite an impressive effort from Mingo and Ansah to keep the Gryphons within reach, the team would see their lead fall with an 11-point Carleton run iver the final few minutes. Unable to get within one score with intentional fouls, the Ravens would escape Guelph with a 5-point victory. 

The Gryphons (0-2) will return to action on Wednesday (Nov. 8) when they host the Waterloo Warriors. Tickets to the game are available at gryphons.ca/tickets.