(29/11/24) - North York, ON., The Queen's Gaels Men's Basketball team extend their win streak to seven games after their second highest scoring night of the season saw them defeat the York Lions 110-87. This triumph for the team moves their season record to 8-1 as they move ahead of the Ottawa Gee-gee's in the OUA East Standings. The Gaels lead point earner, no. 8
Ollie Engen is on a ride of averaging 20 points per game, and is third in the OUA with this statistic. The Gaels guard earned 22 points this evening while no. 3
Luka Syllas (Concurrent-Ed) earned 19. Not far behind was no. 7 Aj Cummings (Arts) with 17.
The Gaels opened the match against the Lions strong with a quick 12-3 lead forcing their opponents to take a timeout quickly into the first. With four minutes of play past, the Gaels expanded their lead to 18-7, demonstrating their dominance over the home team. With the Lions coming off a win to Algoma Thunderbirds, the Gaels pressured the Lions on any offensive possessions and maintained strong ball control throughout the game. The score quickly increased to 33-18 with a minute and a half left in the first with Cummings leading the quarter with 12 points, going three-for-three on three-pointers. The opening quarter ended in a 37-19 lead for the Gaels.
Three minutes into the second quarter the Gaels increase their lead by nine with two jumpers and one from the arch by Engen who cannot be controlled by Lions defense. The Gaels were able to put up 15 on their lead halfway through the second while the Lions could only gather seven in attempts to catch up to the Gaels. The score winded to a 56-35 lead for the Gaels with three minutes left in the first half. With jumpers by no. 23
Jalen Sikkema (Media), no. 10
Lucas Ponting (Commerce), no. 14
Ashton Bain (Arts), and Engen, the Gaels secure a lead of 64-40 after the first half.
The Lions opened up the second half of the game with a slight burst in offensive play as they record the first points in the second half, cutting the Gaels lead down to 19. The Gaels quickly ended this momentum for the Lions as they brought their lead back up to 26 with the help of a swooshing three by Syllas. Bain brings the Gaels lead to 30 points as he sinks two free throws, forcing the Lions to take yet another timeout as they sink to the Gaels lead. The Gaels bring the score to 88-59 with point leaders Syllas and Engen each with seven points in the third.
The fourth quarter sealed the deal for the Gaels as they put up 22 points against the Lions who, although put up their own 20 points, could not slow the Gaels down. With four minutes left in the final quarter, the Gaels racked up the score to 104-71 after jumpers by no. 7
Kai Dalen (Arts) and Sikkema bring the Gaels over 100 for the evening. The Gaels were on the Lions all night grabbing the rebounds and making plays for themselves. Syllas lead the evening in rebounds with 7, and Bain right behind with 6. The Gaels lead by as many as 35 in the fourt quarter, and finished the game with a 110-87 win.
Catch the Gaels on their momentous run as they look for their eighth straight win Saturday, November 30th, at 6:00 PM against the McMaster Marauders on OUA.TV.
