OSHAWA, Ont. – The Ontario Tech men's basketball team has reached a new high for the program, being ranked fourth in the first U SPORTS national rankings for the 2024/25 season.
 
The Ridgebacks are coming a season where they finished ninth in the country and followed it up with an undefeated preseason record with wins over the UCBO Heat, Laval Rouge et Or, Bishop's Gaiters, and the Memorial Seahawks.
 
Ontario Tech opened the regular season with an 88-78 win on the road at McMaster and continued the run with an 86-82 victory over the York Lions while dealing with a short bench. The Ridgebacks' first loss of the season came to the Western Mustangs in their home opener, but they rebounded into form with an 88-83 win over the Windsor Lancers behind a 27-point, six-assist showing from point guard Zubair Seyed.
 
"We are very excited about this fourth-place ranking as it's the highest ranking in program history for us," said head coach Deluxshan Pathmanathan. "I am proud of this achievement; however, I feel we have a lot of work ahead of ourselves these next few months to grow as a program. We hope to take this as added motivation to better ourselves."

TOP TEN
1. Victoria
2. UBC
3. Calgary
4. Ontario Tech
5. Winnipeg
6. TMU
7. Ottawa
8. Cape Breton
9. Carleton
10. Bishop's