By Liam Stevenson

The nationally ranked fifth Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold men’s basketball team were stifled by the red hot Queen’s University Gaels, in a disappointing loss Friday night at the Mattamy Athletic Centre (MAC) by a final score of 75-68.

The loss leaves the Bold behind the Brock University Badgers for second in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Central division with a record of 12-5, and still holding on to the final bye for the first round of the OUA playoffs.

A lack of defensive effort, especially in the first half, as well as abysmal shooting from the three-point line were major factors in the loss to the now 11-7 Gaels, who have stretched their current win streak to five.

“We just missed shots,” said Bold head coach David DeAveiro post game, in regards to the Bold going 2-27 from distance, despite numerous open looks. “We just had one of those [games] man.”

The cold shooting started right from tip-off, with TMU going 0-7 in the initial frame, with sloppy offense that was filled with turnovers and offensive fouls for the Bold, leading to a 24-13 deficit after the first quarter.

The second quarter played out very similarly, with TMU ineffective on their jump shots, while Queen’s shot at a near 50 per cent clip from the field. Queen’s second-year guard Ollie Engen was clear and away the best player, scoring 15 points for the road team to keep them up 46-32 going into the half.

“Their best player played like their best player tonight,” said DeAveiro of Engen.

TMU came out much more intensely on the defensive side of the ball in the second half, forcing multiple turnovers that led to easy buckets at the rim, but the shooting continued to not come around. 

It proved very hard for TMU to fight their way back as Queen’s was still able to hit tough shots, including a tough and one layup over two defenders by Engen midway through the third.

The urgency for TMU amped up in the fourth, opening with a turnover that led to a big two-handed slam for fifth-year guard Aaron Rhooms, part of his game-high 24 points. The Bold’s resurgence came to its pinnacle as Rhooms managed to get a mid-range jumper to rattle around the rim and fall, cutting Queen’s lead to one, awakening the MAC as fans hoped for a dramatic comeback. 

This would be the closest the Bold would get, as a few possessions later, Engen left his final footprint on the game, with a dagger layup, resulting in the final score of 75-68.

After the game DeAveiro shouldered the blame for not preparing the team enough coming into the game, but they will have to have a short memory with another game tomorrow.

“You don’t have much time to feel sorry for yourself,” said DeAveiro.

UP NEXT: The Bold hope to forget this effort quickly as they are back in the MAC tomorrow night welcoming in the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks. Tip-off is at 8 p.m.