OTTAWA, Ont. - The door slammed shut on the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold men's basketball squad's season earlier this evening, as the group fell to the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees 73-72 in the quarter-finals of the OUA playoffs.

David Walker and Aaron Rhooms emptied the offensive tank in the defeat, combining for 54 of the Bold's 72 points. Walker's season-high point total of 35 would fall just short of helping the Bold punch their ticket to the Wilson Cup semifinals. 

The Bold's star power steered the ship early and often in their quarterfinal matchup, with hot starts from Rhooms and Walker quickly putting the nationally ranked Gee-Gees well behind the eight ball. 

Rhooms put the Bold into gear midway through the opening frame, watching his lonesome shot from below the arc wiggle its way through the net to inject some life into TMU's bench. Walker made sure to capitalize on the shift in momentum by registering half a dozen points of his own and adding yet another mammoth dunk to his postseason resume. 

Despite the third-year stacking another seven points onto TMU's lead, it would be the Gee-Gees riveting perimetral success that stole the spotlight throughout the middle stanza. The home side converted on nearly 63% of their distant attempts throughout the frame, draining three consecutive field goals to knot the game up at 38 apiece and snatch the momentum from the Bold. 

Ottawa's Cole Newton played a lively role in helping his side mount a comeback over TMU as well, converting on a pair of triples while continuing to be a thorn in the side of the Bold. A productive quarter quickly followed for the freshman guard, nailing another pair of shots from below the arc to overhaul the offense for the Gee Gees in the game's penultimate frame. 

In a similar stance, Walker and Rhooms continued to monopolize the attack for TMU during the backend of the pivotal contest. The two combined for 18 of the Bold's 19 points in the third frame, producing from all ends of the court to send the Bold into the final quarter trailing by only a pair. 

In the game's lowest scoring quarter, it would be the Bold finding success within the paint and Walker being the one to see out the cause. The veteran made four consecutive free-throws to give the Bold their first lead of the quarter heading into the final minutes of the frame. 

With sixty seconds left to play however, Rhooms would take his fifth and final foul of the match before being removed from the contest's most pivotal stage. The turnover in possession allowed the Gee-Gees to swarm TMU's defensive end and convert on a pair of jumpers, with the latter giving the home side a one-point lead. 

Desperate for offense and with their season on the line, the Bold handed the ball to Simon Chamberlain in an attempt to escape the nation's capital with a last-second win. The sophomore's shot attempt would jiggle around the rim before falling out and inevitably eliminating the Bold from playoff contention.