KINGSTON, Ont. –  The Guelph Gryphons men's basketball team is in desperate search of its first win of the young OUA season. It will have to come another day as the Gryphons fell 83-64 to the Queen's Gaels at the Athletics and Recreation Centre in Kingston.
 
Guelph native Craig Valeriote led the Gryphons with 18 points after making 4 of 7 three-pointers, while Malcolm Glanville added 11 and a team-high 4 assists. Valeriote was instrumental in getting Guelph within striking distance late in the first half when he hit 3 of his 4 threes in a fantastic second quarter.
 
Guelph, playing its fourth straight on the road, had some good stretches but struggled to slow down a potent Queen's offence. The decisive Gaels' run came in the third quarter when they outscored the visitors 26-14 for a 67-47 lead heading into the fourth.
 
The Gryphons finished the night shooting just 34.7 per cent from the field (25 of 72) and 46.7 per cent from the free-throw line (7 of 15). Queen's was sharp, making 34 of 65 field goals (52.3 per cent), with 29 assists compared to 10 for Guelph. Jesse Graham had a game-high 22 points, while Quinton Gray poured in 21.
 
Queen's quickly seized control of the game by going on an early 22-8 run and a 24-14 lead after the first quarter, as the visitors had trouble getting into an offensive rhythm.
 
But Valeriote gave the Gryphons a big spark in the second quarter, nailing a pair of threes from either wing, the second coming with 3:47 before left on the clock. That make forced a Queen's timeout with Guelph cutting the lead to 31-22. Glanville sunk a pair of free throws and Kieran Naus added a layup and a foul to get within four points.
 
The Gaels got the momentum back with back-to-back three-pointers though Valeriote stayed hot and knocked down his third of the quarter from long range to get the Gryphons into the half down 41-33.
 
 
Turning Point
Guelph did well to get into the half down just 8 and after Tommy Yanchus made a free throw to start the third, it was only a 7-point deficit. But the Gaels ran away with the quarter after that and built a 67-47 lead that made for a comfortable fourth on their home court.


Gryphon Take
"We struggled at times communicating defensively and they made us pay. It allowed them to go on runs and stretch the lead multiple times." – head coach Chris O'Rourke

 
The Record
Guelph is 0-5.


Next up
@ York, Saturday, Nov 10, 8 pm