The Ontario Tech Ridgebacks mounted a strong second-half comeback but ultimately fell short against the Queen’s Gaels, losing 99-78 in a men’s basketball matchup at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre on Wednesday, Jan. 15.
The Ridgebacks found themselves in a significant hole at halftime, trailing 57-33 after a dominant first half by the Gaels. Queen’s executed well in transition and capitalized on Ontario Tech’s defensive lapses. But the Ridgebacks weren’t ready to give up. They came out with renewed energy in the second half, cutting the deficit to as few as eight points at one point.
“We knew it was going to be a very uptempo game. They’re a fast-paced team, and they full-court pressed the entire time,” said Ontario Tech head coach Deluxshan Pathmanathan. “We had a game plan for it, but we dug ourselves into a big hole in the first half. We fought hard to crawl back in the second and third quarters, but we just ran out of gas in the end. We’ll see them again on Saturday, and we’ll be better prepared for it.”
Despite the late rally, the Ridgebacks couldn’t complete the comeback. Queen’s guard Luka Syllas was instrumental in the Gaels’ strong start, helping his team push the ball in transition and secure key rebounds.
“I think today went really well,” said Syllas after the game. “We pushed the ball really well in transition. I think we did really well in rebounding, and it just took a group effort. Everyone stepped up today, from the starters to the guys at the end of the bench. That was a gritty win right there.”
Ontario Tech fan Ashkaun Mohammadi, who watched the game from the stands, expressed some disappointment in the Ridgebacks’ performance. “As a fan, I was a little bit disappointed because I know the Ridgebacks are very, very good, but they didn’t play to the best of their ability tonight,” Mohammadi said. “There’s always room to bounce back though. It’s a long season, so it’s fine.”
The atmosphere at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre was electric, with fans rallying behind the Ridgebacks as they fought to close the gap. The crowd cheered loudly during the team’s late-game surge, though ultimately, Queen’s held firm to secure the win.
The Ridgebacks will look to bounce back in their next matchup against the Gaels on Saturday, Jan. 18, in Kingston.