KINGSTON, Ont. (November 4, 2017) - The Queen's Gaels (2-1) dropped a tough 91-86 decision to the No.2 nationally-ranked Brock Badgers (4-0) on Saturday night in men's basketball from the Queen's ARC.
 
GAME FLOW
The Gaels faced their toughest competition yet, in the form of the undefeated, nationally ranked Brock Badgers.

Harry Range (Ottawa) was the first to score, driving into the lane for a layup. Jaz Bains (Brampton, Ont.) followed that up with a layup of his own. Bains also found Range for another layup, off a no-look pass. The Gaels also showed terrific defence to open the game, frustrating the Badgers. Jesse Graham (Kingston, Ont.) scored in transition, off a steal, forcing the Badgers to use a timeout. The Tricolour was exceptionally loud, cheering on their teammates, knowing this game has national implications. This energy translated on the court, as the Gaels commanded an early lead.  Bains kept the momentum going, with a long pull-up three, with the shot-clock dying. Bains finished the first quarter shooting 5-5, with 11 points. The Gaels ended the first quarter with the lead 26-21.

The Badgers were beginning to come back after Johneil Simpson hit a big three in the second. Quinton Gray (Richmond Hill, Ont.), got his first points off a nice feed by Tanner Graham (Kingston, Ont.) to keep the Gaels ahead. Both teams had their foot on the gas pedal, with Brock playing tight press defence and Queen's matching it with speed. Johneil Simpson hit another big three to bring it within 1, but Bains stopped that momentum, with a steal and an assist to Jesse Graham. Simpson came right back with a crossover move, to get into the paint for two free-throw opportunities, to give Brock its first lead. It was a tightly contested 2nd quarter, but Brock ultimately walked away with the lead, 46-42.

The Badgers maintained the lead but never ran away with it. Free throws by Gray tied the game, at the midway mark of the third. Bains was quiet after the first quarter but found Jesse Graham on a behind the back pass. Late in the 3rd, the Badgers began to go on a run, topped off with another three by Simpson, to give Brock its biggest lead thus far. After a pair of free-throws, Bains snuck in one more layup in the final seconds of the 3rd, to narrow the gap. Badgers led at the end of the 3rd 67-65.

With supporters from both sides in attendance, both teams tried to put on a show in the final minutes of the game. Jahneil Simpson opened the quarter with another triple; he finished with seven 3-pointers on the night. The Badgers came out pressing, giving Queen's a hard time offensively. The Gaels could get nothing to go against the tough Badgers defence. After a layup brought the lead to nine, head coach Stephan Barrie needed a timeout. Landon Brickenden (Summerland, B.C.) got the Gaels back to life, with a big dunk and Jaz Bains would follow shortly with an and-1 play of his own. 

Even with the Badgers shooting lights-out, the Gaels never lost faith. Jesse Graham brought the game within four, with a layup off a quick inbound. With the game winding down, the Gaels had to be perfect on both ends. After two free-throws, Jahneil Simpson silenced the crowd with yet another triple. With the final seconds winding down, Quinton Gray got a defensive rebound, took it end to end, and drove it in for a 3-point play, with 10 seconds left, to bring the game within one. The final seconds remaining left Queen's no choice but to foul. A botched inbound play in the final seconds sealed the fate for the Gaels, as the Badgers sunk their final free-throws.

The final score finished Queen's 86 and Brock 91.

BY THE NUMBERS
22- Jaz Bains led the Gaels in scoring with 22 points
38- 38 points from the bench on the night for the Gaels
14-10- Tanner Graham finished the game with a double-double recording 14 points and 10 boards

UP NEXT
The Gaels are on the road to take on the Algoma Thunderbirds on Nov 10th at 8 pm.