KINGSTON, Ont. (January 9, 2010) – Playing the final varsity game in Bartlett Gym, the Gaels put on a shooting display as they outpaced the Ryerson Rams by a score of 71-65 on Saturday night.

Ryan Hairsine of St. Mary's, Ont., led the Gaels attack, hitting 5 of 7 shots from behind the arc and finished with 17 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Two other Gaels finished in double figure including another double-double performance from Mitch Leger of Kingston, Ont., who had 26 points and 15 rebounds. Dan Bannister of Newmarket, Ont., finished with 14 points and six rebounds.

The game opened up with the Gaels taking control early on, hitting shots from inside the paint and beyond the arc to open up a 19-11 lead. The Rams would keep things close going into the half and trailed only by four points.

But the difference in the game came in the third quarter as the Gaels shared the ball and got a number of open looks to open up thirteen point lead. Overall, the Gaels finished with 18 assists on 27 buckets, led by Baris Ondul's (Istanbul, Turkey) six.

The Rams would make a late run but the Gaels would hit their free throws down the stretch to clinch a game they never trailed in.

The victory is the Gaels fourth in a row and puts them over the .500 mark as they improve to 6-5. The loss drops Ryerson to 4-6 and they now trail Queen's by four points for third place in the OUA East division.

Following the game, Assistant Coach Duncan Cowan addressed the crowd with his memories of Bartlett Gym as both a coach and former player. The team then cut down the mesh of both nets to officially close the building.

Queen's Athletics & Recreation will open a new gymnasium next weekend in the Queen's Centre. Volleyball will open the Main Gym in the Athletics & Recreation Centre (ARC) on January 17 while Basketball will host its first game on January 29.

HISTORIC ENDING

FINAL SCORE: Queen's 71, Ryerson 65

LAST BASKET: Dylan Churchill - Ryerson (Three Pointer with 16 seconds to play making the score 71-65 for Queen's)
LAST GAELS BASKET: Baris Ondul – Queen's (Free Throw with 29 seconds to play making the score 71-62 for Queen's)
LAST FIELD GOAL: Dylan Churchill - Ryerson (Three Pointer with 16 seconds to play making the score 71-65 for Queen's)
LAST GAELS FIELD GOAL: Mitch Leger – Queen's (Layup with 43 seconds to play making the score 67-59 Queen's)
LAST REBOUND: Mitch Leger – Queen's (Defensive Rebound with 0:10 left to play)
LAST 3-POINTER: Dylan Churchill - Ryerson (Three Pointer with 16 seconds to play making the score 71-65 for Queen's)