KINGSTON, Ont. (March 2, 2024) - Queen's Men's Basketball are OUA Champions after defeating the Brock Badgers 79-76 to capture the Wilson Cup in an instant classic. The win capped Queen's Men's Basketball record conference season, and was the Gaels' first OUA Men's Basketball championship in more than 50 years.

Queen's never led until the very end, clawing back from an 11-0 deficit to start the game and a 14-point deficit midway through the second quarter, to tie the game heading into the final possession. Gaels star Cole Syllas (Kingston, Ont.), held the ball and launched a three-pointer as time expired, with the ball banking in for the incredible win. 

The capacity crows at the Athletics and Recreation Centre (ARC) stormed the court to celebrate the championship win with the team.

"As a kid from Kingston coming to games, seeing the struggles Queen's has had in basketball over the years," Syllas continued. "The rise we've had over the last decade of building, building, building up to this point of finally getting gold, finally getting a championship, getting our names on a banner that every time we come back here, being a part of history is pretty incredible."
 

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"It's just one of those shots you dream of. You can work as hard as you want, but it just comes down to man hours and getting the shot off, and today it went in. It was pretty magical." - Cole Syllas on the game-winning shot

After an 11-0 run by Brock to start the game, Queen's battled back to cut the deficit to five points after the first quarter. Brock led by nine points at half time before the Gaels cut their lead to just four heading into the final quarter. The final quarter was back-and-forth until the very end when Syllas played the hero and sent the ARC crowd into a frenzy.

Syllas was named the Player of the Game in the win, finishing with a game-high 29 points, powered off six three-pointers, while adding six rebounds and five assists.
 
Luka Syllas (Kingston, Ont.) also had a monster performance for Queen's, finishing with 15 points and five rebounds. Michael Kelvin (Kingston, Ont.) recorded a double double, recording 13 points and 10 rebounds. After the game, Kelvin talked about playing a championship game in front of a huge, hometown crowd.

"It's a super big honour. I never really focused on offence, I just want to get blocks and rebounds, hype the team up, set that energy. It's nice when the whole crowd is here, and they're all jumping and screaming. It's an honour."

Queen's Men's Basketball's season isn't over yet, as the team will travel to Laval, Que. for the U SPORTS Men's Basketball Championship this week.