KINGSTON, Ont. (February 8th, 2019) – The Queen's Men's Basketball Team (11-9) knocked off the No.6 Ottawa Gee-Gees (13-7) 78-75 in overtime on Friday night at the ARC – Main Gym.
GAME FLOW
The Gaels got off to a dream start against the third-place OUA East Gee-Gees, opening the game on a 14-0 run which was fueled by staunch defending and three
Tanner Graham three-point shots.
Tanner Graham would lead the Gaels with 15 points in the opening 10 minutes on 5-5 shooting as the Gaels took a 22-8 lead over the visiting Gee-Gees headed to the second quarter.
The second was a back-and-forth affair between the Gaels and Gee-Gees, with the Gaels narrowly edging out the Gee-Gees 18-14 in the quarter and taking a commanding 40-22 lead to the half.
Tanner Graham was simply sensational for the Gaels in the first half, scoring 22 points on 7-11 shooting and making several highlight-reel plays. Meanwhile, Henry van Herk led the Gaels with eight rebounds. The Gaels out-rebounded the Gee-Gees 30-17 in the first half and recorded 10 assists as a team.
The Gee-Gees threw everything they had at the Gaels in the third quarter, yet Ottawa was only able to reduce the lead by three points as standout guard play from
Jaz Bains helped the Gaels take a 15-point lead to the final quarter at 58-43.
In the final quarter, the Gee-Gees put the Gaels under pressure almost immediately, opening the frame on a 10-0 run which felt much like the one the Gaels had enjoyed to start the game, cutting the Gaels lead to just five points. Only moments later, after trailing the entire game to that point, the Gee-Gees hit a three-point shot with a little more than five minutes remaining to take their first lead of the night at 60-59.
In the final five minutes, the Gee-Gees continued rolling, taking a five-point lead that the Gaels had to work hard to cut down to just one with a little less than a minute remaining.
Inside the last sixty-seconds,
Jaz Bains hit a clutch free throw to tie the game up at 66-66 before the Gee-Gees Calvin Epistola put Ottawa ahead with just five second seconds left. On the Gaels last possession,
Harry Range drove hard to the basket in traffic, getting a contested layup to go in off the backboard as time expired, sending the game to overtime at 68-68.
In overtime, the teams traded baskets down the stretch before the Gaels finally took control through back-to-back contested layups from
Swann Fargeau-Faucon and
Quinton Gray. The two tough shots afforded the Gaels a five-point lead, and although they would surrender a late Gee-Gees three-pointer, it was just enough for Queen's to hold on for a thrilling overtime victory 78-75.
Leading the way for the Gaels on the night was
Tanner Graham with 25 points and nine rebounds, while
Jaz Bains came up huge in the second half, scoring 17 points over the final 20 minutes of regulation.
PLAYOFF PICTURE
The Gaels continue to chase down a home playoff game and now sit at 11-9 on the season in fifth place in the East just two points behind Laurentian for fourth place.
MUST SEE MOMENTS
Tanner Graham opens up on fire
Range sends it to OT
Swann Fargeau-Faucon with a late bucket
BY THE NUMBERS
52 – Rebounds for the Gaels.
10 – The Gaels scored ten second chance points.
UP NEXT
The Gaels are back in action tomorrow night when they welcome the No.2 Carleton Ravens to the ARC on Senior night and a special Pink the Court game in support of anti-bullying.
