KINGSTON, Ont. (January 29, 2009) – Mitch Leger of Kingston, Ont., had 24 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Gaels to 87-81 victory over the Laurentian Voyageurs in OUA men's basketball team's on Friday. The game was Queen's first men's basketball contest in the Main Gym of the new Athletics & Recreation Centre which opened in early December.

While Leger led the Gaels with 24 points, two other Gaels had double-digit figures with Baris Ondul of Istanbul, Turkey, scoring 17 and Ozren Opacic of Burlington, Ont., adding 13. Ondul and Chris Barrett of Vancouver, B.C., lead the team in assists with three apiece.

The game marked Leger's 12th double-double of the 2009-10 season and the potential CIS player of the year currently is averaging 22 points and 12 rebounds per game. The fourth-year sociology major currently leads the country in both offensive and defensive rebounds.

The first quarter saw the Gaels and Voyageurs come out strong in the opening minutes as they attempted to gain the early lead. The Gaels took the lead with a three pointer from Ryan Hairsine, of St. Mary's, Ont., early in the first quarter which the Queen's held for the remainder of the quarter.

The second quarter saw the Gaels maintain their lead, leading by as much as 10 in the third, and ending the half with an eight point lead.

Coming out of the halftime the Voyageurs attempted to make an energetic comeback shortening the Gaels lead to five, however, Leger led a rally which built a 15-point lead midway through the third. The Gaels lead 67-54 going into the final quarter.

The Voyageurs made a final effort to gain the lead in the fourth quarter with Georges Seresse of Sudbury, Ont., scoring 18 points in the final quarter alone. In the final minute the Voyageurs trailed by seven going into the final second of the game and a circus three-pointer from Voyageurs guard Paul Kovacs of Barrie, Ont., made a four point game. Two clutch free throws from Dan Bannister of Newmarket, Ont., ensured the Gaels maintained the lead with the final score ending 87-81.

The win improves the Gaels record to .500 (8-8) and maintain third in the OUA East Division.

Tomorrow night, the Gaels will host York Lions and pay tribute to fallen alumni Marco Alessio in the Marco W. Alessio Memorial Game. Alessio played for the Gaels from 1987-89 and was killed tragically last February abroad in Madagascar. Celebrity and former Gaels teammate Tom Cavanagh will be a part of the ceremony to honour Alessio. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:00pm following the women's game.

NOTES: Queen's Bernard Burgesson recorded the first scoring statistic in the Gaels opening game of the Main Gym at the ARC with a defensive rebound at 9:49 of the first quarter… Voyageurs Tirillis Matas scored the opening basket while Queen's first point was tallied seconds later by Mitch Leger on a layup; Tim Boyle recorded the assist on the play. Queen's holds a 6-2 record since the in the Main Gym opened in early January; the gym is home to both Volleyball and Basketball.