BY THE NUMBERS: #7 Gee-Gees kick off the New Year in Toronto

Saturday's Game:

• The Matchup: #7 Ottawa Gee-Gees (8-2) at Toronto Varsity Blues (4-6)
• Location: University of Toronto – Goldring Centre Kimel Family Field House
• Tip-off: 4 p.m. EST
• Watch Online: OUA.tv
• Series Record: Ottawa leads 61-46 since 1971
• Last Meeting: Ottawa 84 vs Toronto 75 – January 27, 2017

OTTAWA GAME NOTES

• Major Stat Leaders
  • Points: Guillaume Pépin – 16.7 per game
  • Assists: Calvin Epistola – 4.1 per game
  • Rebounds: Guillaume Pépin 7.5 per game
• The Gee-Gees top the OUA in three-pointers made per game this season with 10.6 per contest. This comes thanks in large part to the outside shooting of the team's starting lineup (Epistola, Robinson, Sabean, Pépin, Morrison) who all average more than one three-pointer per game.
• In recent years, free throw shooting has hampered the Gee-Gees down the stretch, however this season, the team has gone from the OUA's worst to the fourth best, shooting a respectable 73 per cent from the line.
• First-year forward Guillaume Pépin will look to continue the torrid start to his career in Garnet and Grey. As the top performing rookie in the nation in four separate statistical categories, to go along with top three in eight categories overall, Pépin is establishing himself in major awards discussions.

TORONTO GAME NOTES

• Major Stat Leaders
  • Points: Evan Shadkami – 16.0 per game
  • Assists: Christopher Barrett and Daniel Johansson – 2.3 per game
  • Rebounds: Daniel Johansson – 6.1 per game
• The Gee-Gees will have to be aggressive on the offensive glass as the Blues rank fifth in the OUA in defensive rebounds per game (27.6)
• Despite their record, Toronto is a team that can score at solid pace. They average 74.5 points per game, don't rely on shooting threes, and get to the line consistently and effectively.
• Ottawa will look to take advantage of a Toronto defence that is susceptible to allowing high-scoring performances to their opponents. The Varsity Blues sit near the bottom in the OUA with 85.5 points allowed per game.

 Sunday's Game:

• The Matchup: #7 Ottawa Gee-Gees (8-2) at #2 Ryerson Rams (10-0)
• Location: Ryerson University – Coca-Cola Court (Mattamy Athletic Centre)
• Tip-off: 4 p.m. EST
• Watch Online: OUA.tv
• Series Record: Ottawa leads 71-31 since 1971
• Last Meeting: Ryerson 77 vs Ottawa 69 – February 24, 2018 (OUA Quarterfinal) 

RYERSON GAME NOTES

• Major Stat Leaders
  • Points: JV Mukama – 19.9 per game
  • Assists: Myles Charvis – 5.2 per game
  • Rebounds: JV Mukama – 7.9 per game
• Not since taking on Carleton in October have the Gee-Gees had a test at the level of Ryerson. The Rams are ranked in the top two in 10 separate OUA statistical categories.
• Ryerson's nation-leading opponent field goal percentage (28.9) is a hurdle the Gee-Gees will need to clear if they want to play the level of high-octane offence that works for the team.
• The Rams do have a tendency to be careless with the ball on offence, with 15 turnovers per game (fourth worst in the OUA).