KINGSTON (Nov. 23, 2024) – The Queen's Gaels extended their winning streak to six games with a gritty 84-79 victory over the Lakehead Thunderwolves at the ARC on Saturday night. The hard-fought win improves Queen's record to 7-1 and solidifies their place among the top teams in the OUA East.

Lakehead opened the game with fast-paced offense, exploiting the Gaels' early defensive struggles to take a 26-24 lead after the first quarter. Scott Jenkins (Concurrent Education) sparked the Gaels' offense late in the frame with back-to-back three-pointers, while Kai Dalen (Arts & Science) brought the crowd to their feet with a momentum-shifting chase-down block.

The second quarter saw the Thunderwolves build a double-digit lead with consistent drives to the basket and quick conversions off turnovers. Despite a slow start from Ollie Engen (Kinesiology), who began the game shooting 1-for-7, the Gaels rallied late in the half. Engen found rhythm, closing the quarter on a 3-for-3 shooting stretch, and Jalen Sikkema (Arts & Science) paced the team offensively to trim the deficit to just two points at halftime, 45-43.

Coming out of the break, Queen's leaned on Engen and Luka Syllas (Concurrent Education), who combined for key buckets to keep the Gaels within striking distance. Jenkins continued his sharpshooting, nailing a deep three-pointer to tie the game at 53 midway through the third quarter. With a spirited defensive effort and timely scoring, Queen's closed the frame with a slim 65-63 lead.

In the fourth quarter, the Gaels showcased their resilience. Technical fouls from Lakehead allowed Queen's to capitalize at the free-throw line, and physical defensive play from Jenkins and Sikkema helped seal the win. Syllas took over offensively, attacking the paint with confidence and converting an and-one opportunity to extend the lead to nine points with six minutes remaining. Lakehead's attempts to rally were stifled by Gaels' composure down the stretch, with defensive stops and clutch rebounds ensuring the victory.

Engen led Queen's with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Syllas contributed 17 points and three rebounds. Jenkins chipped in 13 points, including three three-pointers, and Sikkema added 11 points and four steals off the bench.

The Gaels will look to keep their streak alive next weekend as they travel to face the York Lions on Friday, Nov. 29. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m., and the game will be streamed live on OUA.TV