The York University Lions men's basketball team lost 90-57 against the No. 2 nationally-ranked Ottawa Gee-Gees on Friday (Feb. 13) at Tait McKenzie Centre.
 
Guard Johnny Berhanemeskel scored a game-high 27 points, with the 15^th moving him into third place all-time in Ontario University Athletics (OUA) with 1,931 points. He also added six rebounds, four assists and a steal.
 
Despite the loss, the Lions retain their second-place spot in the OUA East standings with 18 points and a 9-8 record. The Gee-Gees remain first place in the OUA North standings with a record of 15-1 and 30 points.
 
The Gee-Gees made an immediate impact in the first quarter, scoring a trio of three-pointers for the opening baskets. The visiting team recorded 13 straight points in the first three minutes. Gene Spagnuolo (Maple, Ont.) broke the streak with the Lions' first basket.
 
Richard Iheadindu (Brampton, Ont.) intercepted a pass from the opposition's court and made the basket. Not long after that, Nathan Culbreath (Kingston, Ont.) intercepted another pass at half court for a basket as the Lions trailed 23-10.
 
An energetic performance in the first quarter concluded with the visiting Gee-Gees leading 33-12.
 
The Lions found themselves outplayed and outscored by the Gee-Gees' continuous three-point shots. The Lions called a timeout four minutes in after being unable to score in the quarter. Culbreath broke the dry spell with a shot from downtown.
 
The halftime score read 64-29 with the Gee-Gees leading comfortably.
 
The visitors continued their domination in the third quarter. Gabriel Gonthier-Dubue made three consecutive offensive rebounds before finally making the basket at 71-32.
 
Phillip Cunningham-Gillen (Hamilton, Ont.) subbed in for Spagnuolo. At 73-32, Gillen made a good steal, stopping a dangerous fast break by the Gee-Gees, and scoring on the counter.
 
The Lions increased their pace in the final five minutes of the quarter with quick attacking transitions. However, several opportunities were squandered with missed shots as the third quarter ended with the Gee-Gees still leading 77-42.
 
At the fourth quarter, the Lions started the game strongly with five quick points. Jon Dulmage (Brantford, Ont.) made a three-point shot after a good ball movement, and Iheadindu followed it up with a fast break layup.
 
Dulmage did well pressuring the opposition's long shot attempts as the Lions recorded more rebounds and steals in their own court, but the talented Gee-Gees, the reigning OUA champions, proved to be too much on the night.
 
For the Lions, Iheadindu recorded 13 points, five rebounds and one steal, and Spagnuolo had 12 points, three assists and one rebound.
 
The Lions will be hosting the No. 1 nationally-ranked Carleton Ravens for the final home game of the regular season on Saturday (Feb. 14) at the Tait McKenzie Centre beginning at 8pm.