Mbiaba leads Carleton past TMU into national championship game
March 7, 2026

Mbiaba leads Carleton past TMU into national championship game

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Cedric Mbiaba scored 19 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Carleton Ravens to a hard-fought 58-52 victory over the Toronto Metropolitan Bold in the first semifinal of the 2026 U SPORTS Men’s Final 8, presented by Student Housing Calgary, Saturday at Jack Simpson Gym.
 
With the win, Carleton improves to 26-9 overall (17-5 OUA) and advances to the national championship game Sunday at 5 p.m. Mountain Time, where the Ravens will look to capture a record 18th national title. Toronto Metropolitan falls to 30-6 (17-5 OUA) and will play for bronze at 1 p.m. Mountain Time.
 
Mbiaba, named Carleton’s player of the game, was efficient offensively, shooting 7-for-10 from the field while adding four free throws and three steals in 25 minutes.
 
The tightly contested defensive battle saw both teams struggle to find rhythm early. TMU held a slim 13-12 lead after the opening quarter before the Ravens edged ahead 26-25 at halftime.
Carleton gradually seized control in the third quarter, outscoring TMU 16-11 to take a 42-36 advantage into the final frame. The Ravens’ pressure defence forced key turnovers and helped generate second-chance opportunities as they dominated the glass.
 
Carleton finished with a commanding 59-35 rebounding advantage, including 23 offensive boards, which helped offset a difficult shooting night from the field.
 
Mark Dike added nine points off the bench for the Ravens, while Louth-Mohamed Coulibaly and Tyler Brown chipped in with nine and seven rebounds respectively.
 
Maxime Louis-Jean, TMU’s player of the game, scored nine points with three assists and a steal. Aaron Rhooms led the Bold in scoring with 18 points and nine rebounds, while Gurdeep Kalsi contributed six points and three rebounds.
 
Both teams struggled shooting, with Carleton connecting on 28.6 per cent of its attempts and TMU finishing at 32.7 per cent.
 
Both the Ravens and Bold await the result of the other semifinal between Bishop's and Victoria, which will determine their opposition for Sunday.
 
NIKE TEAM PLAYERS OF THE GAME: 
  • Carleton: Cedric Mbiaba
  • Toronto Metropolitan: Maxime Louis-Jean