On Saturday (Jan. 23) the York University men's basketball team finished with a nail-biting 62-59 loss against the Queen's Gaels at the Tait McKenzie Centre.
 
The Lions took the first quarter with a 14-11 score to start off the game strong. Jayden Frederick (Scarborough, Ont.) played an excellent first quarter, putting up 2 points off of a rebound in a high-pressure situation, and then jumping up to deny a lay up from a Gaels player.
 
In the second quarter both teams picked up the intensity and the Gaels were able to narrow the score to 27-26 at the half. Tom Hobbs and Phillip Gillen were busy and made a difference, scoring several points each.
 
By the end of the third quarter the Gaels were able to break free with a two-point lead to head into the final quarter.
 
Lions Nathan Culbreath (Kingston, Ont.) had a fantastic layup midway through the action in the third quarter, Nana Adu-Poku (North York, Ont.) hit an excellent three-pointer, and Shane Reader (Toronto) grabbed two points before the final buzzer to end the quarter, but it didn't stop Gaels from finishing with the 21-19 edge in the period.
 
In the fourth quarter the teams were neck and neck to squeeze out the points needed to get the victory. Adu-Poku gave the Lions a one-point lead at 8:15 and Culbreath added two points in the last minute of play to make it 60-59, but two properly executed free throws by Gaels Mark Paclibar sealed the win for Queen's.
 
Gaels Sukpreet Singh had the most points in the game with 22, including nine made shots from the field, and four from the free throw line. Culbreath played a fantastic game for the Lions grabbing 20 points, with six shots made from the field and tallying an impressive eight points from the free throw mark.
 
With the result added to both team's records, the Lions remain in fourth place in the OUA East standings, while the Gaels are tied up with Ryerson in first place with 14 points each.
 
Within the week the Lions will hit the road to take on the Carleton Ravens in Ottawa, Ont. Tip off will be at 8pm on Jan. 29 (Friday).