Carleton tops Laval to advance to Final 8 semifinal

Aubrey Dorey-Havens scored a game-high 23 points to lead the Carleton Ravens to an 85-69 victory over the Laval Rouge et Or in the second quarterfinal of the 2026 U SPORTS Men’s Final 8, presented by Student Housing Calgary, on Friday afternoon at Jack Simpson Gym.

With the win, the sixth-seeded Ravens advance to Saturday evening’s national semifinal, while the third-seeded Rouge et Or drop into the consolation bracket. 

Dorey-Havens, named Carleton’s player of the game, paced the Ravens offensively and helped set the tone in a strong opening quarter that put Laval on its heels early.

Carleton jumped out to a 24-16 lead after the first quarter behind efficient shooting and aggressive defence. Laval responded in the second frame, outscoring the Ravens 22-17 to trim the deficit to 41-38 at halftime. 

The Ravens regained control after the break. Carleton outscored Laval 24-17 in the third quarter to rebuild its cushion before sealing the victory with a 20-point fourth quarter. 

Carleton shot 46.7 per cent from the field and knocked down 12 three-pointers, while also forcing 13 Laval turnovers in the contest. The Ravens also received a significant boost from their bench, which accounted for 42 points. 

Laval was led by player of the game Christophe Tshibola, who continued his impressive season after being named the U SPORTS men’s basketball rookie of the year on Wednesday. The first-year forward provided a steady presence for the Rouge et Or as they battled back in the second quarter and attempted to keep pace in the second half.

Despite Laval’s push, Carleton controlled much of the final 20 minutes and built its lead to as many as 19 points late in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach. 

NIKE TEAM PLAYERS OF THE GAME

• Carleton: Aubrey Dorey-Haynes
• Laval: Christophe Tshibola