By: Zachary Friedman

The Centennial Colts men's basketball team have come out of the gates firing. With their first 2-0 start since 2018, the Colts look to extend their win streak against La Cité Coyotes in Ottawa.

For La Cité, it is their first game of the season. With an 0-18 record last season, the Coyotes are looking for their first win since the 2019-20 season. (La Cité did not compete in 21-22)

Last Game for the Colts:

The Colts took care of business against the Algonquin Wolves Friday night, winning 110-62.

Four Colts players scored in double-figures with first-year forward Samuel Wong leading the charge with 31 points. Wong put on an incredible display of efficiency in his 36 minutes of action, shooting 11-of-16 from the field and an astonishing 6-of-7 from deep.

Deandre Goulbourne also put on an impressive display and had a near triple-double with 19 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists. Goulbourne was productive at the defensive end as well recording four steals and two blocks in the victory.

As a team it appeared the Colts had no flaws, the team shot over 50% from the field and from three and dished out 34 assists.

Some concerns for the Colts however as early in the first quarter, Tayeshaun Crawford, who was pivotal in the Colts first victory against the Georgian Grizzlies, appeared to injure his leg boxing out an Algonquin defender. He left the game after just two minutes and did not return.

La Cité

The Coyotes are led by Head Coach Namory Kone in his fifth year with the team. The program had to start from the ground up last season as no basketball was played for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

A year later, La Cité now has some veteran experience on their roster that has been developing and they are looking to keep improving.

One player the Coyotes will miss this year is Chekinah Mbangu who made second-team all-star last season but did not return to La Cité's squad for 2023.

Game Prediction

With the Colts playing back-to-back games, fatigue may become an issue for the OCAA's top seed, but the experience of the Colts should be able to get them past the Coyotes and on their way to a 3-0 start.

The Colts take on the Coyotes live at 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon.