By Chris Sanders

Led by Jean-Victor Mukama’s strong performance, the Ryerson Rams men’s basketball team took a 91-68 win over the Laurentian Voyageurs at Coca-Cola Court on Jan. 19.

Just over a year ago, the Voyageurs took down Ryerson in a 88-83 thriller that saw Mukama shoot 0-7 with only two points to show for it. The fifth-year star rained a game-high 25 points to silence the visitors and help his team earn their fourth straight victory.

“If you see me doing [celebrations] it’s because they’re trash talking,” said Mukama. “That was to show respect for my team after I came back from an injury [sustained early in the game] and it was the first three I hit…I had to show a little emotion.”

Mukama shot an impressive 10-20 from the field, while teammates Myles Charvis, Filip Vujadinovic and Tanor Ngom all finished in double-figures for a 75-point night from the starting five.

Despite a three point lead at the end of the opening 10 minutes, the Rams would turn on the jets and go on an 11-0 second quarter run for a 44-28 lead.

The Voyageurs would eventually respond with a few runs of their own, but Mukama would answer each time, continuing to sink his patented mid-range jumper.

OUA league-leading point scorer, Kadre Gray, failed to get Laurentian going in the last half of action, shooting an abysmal 1-6 from the field after torching the Rams with 21 points in the first half. With Gray slowing down, the Voyageurs eventually found themselves in a deep hole.

Ryerson assistant coach Borko Popic spoke highly of Gray, but acknowledged the Voyageurs weren’t a one-trick-pony.

“They have some nice pieces around Kadre to make him effective,” said Popic. “It’s not a one man show. It’s our ability to lock in on him and defend them as a group.

UP NEXT: The Rams will look to win their fifth straight game on Jan 19. against the Nipissing Lakers at the Mattamy Athletic Centre. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m.