(15/11/24) - Waterloo, ON., The Queen's Men's Basketball team dominated the Waterloo Warriors in an almost 40 point lead with the victory of 99-60. This win adds to the Gaels season record making it 4-1. The Gaels sit at 3rd in the OUA east, and leaves the Warriors with a 2-4 season record. With the Gaels starting player no. 3
Luka Syllas (Concurrent-Ed) back on the court for the first time in the regular season after an ankle injury, the Gaels play one of the best games of their season so far.
The Warriors took the lead and forced the Gaels to find their footing quickly in the first quarter, as they held a close lead throughout the first. No. 13
Scott Jenkins (Concurrent-Ed) shoots a three-pointer to let the Gaels take a lead 8-5, although the two teams battled in the first to break away from the close score, the quarter finishes in a 20-20 tie.
The second quarter is where the Gaels take-off offensively and expand their lead away from the Warriors reach. Jenkins sinking another three-pointer to open the quarter followed by a hook shot by no. 6
Kai Dalen (Arts) builds the Gaels rhythm as they begin to take over the scoreboard. With three's by no. 8
Ollie Engen (Kinesiology) and Syllas, momentum spurs on the Gaels. Pulling away from the Warriors, the Gaels go on an 11 point tear in three minutes: jumpers by Engen (two), no. 12
Tyson Lama (Commerce), and Syllas, then a three by no. 7 Aj Cummings (Arts). The second quarter ends with the Gaels taking a 13 point lead of 47-34, shooting 27 points to the Warriors 14. The Gaels lead in rebounds 28 to 10.
The Gaels open the second half of the game with a jumper by no. 15
Isaac Krueger (Arts). No. 23
Jalen Sikkema (Media) and Jenkins force the Warriors to take a time-out only a few minutes into the third quarter as they add to the lead to make it a 22 point game of 60-38. Engen leads with 28 points for the Gaels, and the Warriors look tired after chasing the Gaels looking for opportunities to close their point deficit. The Gaels close the third quarter looking impressive offensively and defensively as they hold the Warriors to nine points while taking a comfortable lead of 68-43.
The last 10 minutes of game play allowed the Gaels to take an offensive stride on the Warriors, rocketing to a 30 point lead (79-49) early in the quarter. Two three-pointers by Cummings, one by Krueger, and a jump shot by Syllas continue the Gaels dominance over their opponents. The Warriors try to make something happen offensively for themselves with five minutes of play left in the game, but the Gaels efforts are too strong for them as they hold onto a 32 point lead, forcing the Warriors to take a timeout to reassess. Jenkins hits another three, bringing the lead to 92-57 with three minutes left. As the Gaels see the clock closing in on another win for their season, Dalen and no. 10
Lucas Ponting (Commerce) secure the final score of 99-60. With a total of 31 to 17 points for the Gaels in the fourth, the game ends with the Queen's Men's Basketball team leaves Waterloo with an enormous victory.
Catch the Gaels take on the the Laurier Golden Hawks on Saturday, November 16th, at 8:00PM, on OUA.TV.
