Despite three players in double figures, the Varsity Blues men’s basketball team dropped a close 67-62 contest to the host Queen’s Gaels in the first game of the second half of the OUA regular season on Friday, January 8th in Kingston, Ont.

Coming off a bumpy road trip to Ohio over the holiday break, Toronto (5-4) was unable to find their touch around the basket on this night. As a team, the Blues were 22-of 64, shooting 34 percent from the floor and was 76 percent from the free-throw line.

St. Catharines native Rob Paris tallied a team-high 15 points, while Pat Sewell (London, Ont.) knocked down 13 points and Nick Magalas of Burlington, Ont. added 12 in the loss.

6-foot-6 forward Drazen Glisic (Sarajevo, BIH) grabbed a team-high nine boards for the visiting Blues..

In the loss, Varsity now sits in a tie with Queen’s for third place in the OUA East division - Toronto with a game in hand.

With the game at a virtual deadlock through the first three quarters, the Blues took an ever-so-slight one-point lead into the final frame. The Gaels would forge ahead in the final 10 minutes, outscoring the Blues 22-16 to claim the five-point victory.

Mitch Leger of Kingston, Ont., tallied his seventh double-double of the season and hauled in a season-high 20 rebounds to go along with 20 points in his second-to-last game at Bartlett Gymnasium.

Dan Bannister of Newmarket, Ont. and Baris Ondul of Istanbul, Turkey each scored 12 points in the win.

The Blues are back on the floor in Kingston tomorrow afternoon when they head to Royal Military College to take on the Paladins. Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m.

For more information, scores and highlights on your favourite Toronto teams, please visit the home of the Varsity Blues at http://www.varsityblues.ca.