Since the Varsity Blues men’s basketball team could not put away visitors RMC when they had the chance early Sunday afternoon, they left themselves no choice but to grind out a narrow 77-74 win against the feisty Paladins.

It was an ugly win for U of T over 1-9 RMC, but an important one nonetheless, as the Blues look to make a big push for the fourth and final playoff spot in the OUA East with their last seven games at home in the Sports Gym. The win raised U of T’s record to 5-8, which leaves them four points behind fourth place Laurentian, who sit at 7-6.

The Blues got a terrific all-around effort from Tom Grochmal, who scored the team’s first seven points and 14 overall, grabbed a team high ten rebounds and was a menace at the defensive end, swiping seven steals.

Kenny Hilborn led U of T in scoring with 19 points and added six rebounds and a team high five assists, while Paul Zyla hit on three of five three-point shots and had 17 points in all to go with seven rebounds.

Matt Sturgeon gave the Blues 12 critical minutes off the bench, netting ten points and grabbing nine rebounds.

After opening up an early 17-7 lead in the first ten minutes of the game, the Blues fell into a shooting funk and allowed RMC easy baskets as the visiting Paladins battled back to take a 38-36 lead at the half.

However, after shooting a shade under 40 percent in the first half, U of T bounced back strong in the second period, outgunning RMC 46.4–33.3 percent after the break.

“Our pressure prevailed in the end. It wore them down a little bit, and then I think we had good execution in the second half,” said U of T coach Ken Olynyk,

While U of T’s record does not look impressive now, it is worth noting that after opening the OUA regular season with a pair of home games, the Blues went on a long nine-game road trip (not to mention five exhibition road games in that stretch) before a pair of home games this past weekend.

However, U of T will play their last two away games of the season next weekend before settling in for a welcome stretch of games at the Sports Gym at the end of the year.

“When you consider that, I think we’re doing pretty well. Guys have stood up to it pretty well, but being home for the month of February will help us,” said Olynyk, who added he expects his team to be around for the post-season. “When we roll into the playoffs I think we’ll be ready.”

The Blues lost a tight contest earlier in the weekend, a 68-65 defeat at the hands of Ryerson Friday night.

The Blues made 16 of 23 free throws compared to two of four for the Rams and out-rebounded the visitors 35-23, but fell victim to a hotter shooting team and a costly 23 turnovers compared to just 17 by Ryerson.