The York University men's basketball team dropped a close 102-98 game to the Guelph Gryphons on Saturday night (Feb. 6) at the Tait McKenzie Centre.
 
With the result added to both teams' records, each side remains in the same spot in the standings. The Lions are seated in fourth place in the OUA East standings, while the Gryphons stay in fourth in the OUA Central. 
 
The Gryphons came out strong to start the game and secured themselves a comfortable 26-11 lead by the end of the first quarter. Jack Beatty, Taylor Boers, Drew Walford, and Jonathan Wallace all had strong starts for Gryphons.
 
However, despite the fifteen-point deficit the Lions rolled up their socks and hustled hard to narrow the score to 43-39 by the end of the second quarter.
 
Shane Reader (Toronto) and Nathan Culbreath (Kingston, Ont.) were standouts for the Lions, while Gene Spagnuolo (Maple, Ont.) had the crowd going crazy after he dunked the ball off an assist from Reader and scored eight points alone in the quarter.
 
In the third quarter the Gryphons upped their lead to nine and led 72-61 heading into the final quarter. Gryphons Drew Walford had the most points of the quarter with eight, while Wallace and Beatty continued to hit key baskets for the Gryphons.
 
The fourth quarter was a nail-biter as the Lions nearly squeezed out a win in the last three minutes of play. Phillip Gillen (Hamilton, Ont.), Culbreath, Tommy Hobbs (Anchorage, Alaska), and the rest of the Lions made it 98-96 with only seconds left on the clock, but two free throws made each by Wallace and Boer secured the Gryphons the win.
 
Overall Cuthbert was the game's leading scorer with 26 points and also picked up a double-double with ten rebounds. Reader followed behind him with 15 points, and Spagnuolo and Hobbs had 14 points each. Reader also offered an impressive eight assists.
 
For the Gryphons, Wallace led the way with 24 points while Boers also put up 18 points, Walford 16 points, followed by Beatty with 13.
 
Up next for the Lions is the Windsor Lancers on Feb. 12 (Friday) at 8pm. The Lions will host the Lancers at the Tait McKenzie Centre.