KINGSTON, Ont. (February 24, 2010) -
Mitch Leger of Kingston, Ont. poured in 35 points to lead the Queen's Gaels (12-11) in a dramatic 79-76, come-from-behind overtime win over the Ryerson Rams (10-13) on Wednesday in the opening round of the OUA men's basketball playoffs.
Queen's overcame a 14-point deficit en route to a 29 point fourth quarter and a tie 65-65 game entering overtime. In the deciding frame with Ryerson's top scoring threat, Boris Bakovic of Toronto, having fouled out, the Gaels edged the Rams 14-11 to win 79-76.
The win sends the Gaels to the OUA quarter-finals against the Ottawa Gee Gees on Saturday, Feb. 27 in Ottawa.
Leger tallied a team high 12 rebounds and his 35 points were a season high for the Gaels all-time scoring leader. He was 13-of-21 from the floor and 7-of-10 from the foul line. Ryan Harisine of St. Mary's, Ont. dropped 16 points in 39 minutes of play.
Bakovic, the OUA leading scorer tallied 28 points and a game high 15 rebounds in four quarters of play. Ryan McNeilly of Toronto also broke the 20-point mark securing 21.
Queen's moved the ball around well registering 18 assists on 27 made field goals. Ryerson was plagued 21 turnovers.
Down 62-65 with six seconds left in the game, a double teamed Leger found a Harisine in the back corner for the game tying three-pointer. Ryerson failed to convert on their last possession which sent the game to an extra frame. In the overtime, Leger scored 10 of his 35 points with help from guard
Chris Barrett of Vancouver, who tallied three of his game-high nine assists.
In other OUA action York upset Toronto 86-79, Laurier topped Western 89-70 and Waterloo edged McMaster 66-63. Lakehead, Carelton, Ottawa and Windsor all had first round byes.
NOTES: Leger's 35 points was the highest individual scoring effort in the Main Gym of the Athletics & Recreation Centre which opened Jan. 17, 2010... Queen's finishes with a 2-1 season record against the Rams earning its other win coming on Jan. 9 in the final game at Bartlett Gymnasium; the score of that game was 71-65... Members of the men's and women's volleyball team as well as the women's basketball were in attendance during the game helping cheer on the Gaels to victory.
