Playing each other exceptionally close through four quarters of regulation, it was little surprise when overtime was required to separate the Marauders and Gaels Saturday.

But once there, the hosts from McMaster struggled to find their rhythm on the offensive end, and were dispatched to a fourth consecutive loss to conclude the 2018 calendar.

Queen's outscored Mac 10-2 in the bonus period to secure an 88-80 win at Burridge Gym.

Rookie guard Jordan Henry enjoyed his most prolific offensive night as a Marauder in the loss, racking up 21 points on six of 12 shooting from the floor and three of seven from long range. A threat on the drive, Henry hit six of his seven looks from the charity stripe.

Fellow first-year guard Sefa Otchere had 16 points of his own, including a highlight dunk in the fourth quarter, hitting five of 10 shots from the floor and five of eight from the free throw line.

Shooting just 38 per cent in the first half, McMaster improved markedly in the second en route to the comeback which forced overtime, making good on 14 of 31 attempts in the final 20 minutes of regulation (45 per cent).

There was very little to choose between the two teams early, but the offensive work of Connor Gilmore, who was showing his chops both down low and from beyond the arc, sent the Gaels scampering to a timeout after a triple gave Mac a 16-13.

Queen's turned the opening half in their favour, thanks in large part to the visitors' own success from beyond the arc, where the Gaels hit seven of 15 (47 per cent) attempts from long range in the first 20 minutes.

Tanner Graham was the leading beneficiary, reaching 21 points by the onset of the halftime break after drilling his third triple of the night in the final minute of the second quarter.

Henry answered for the Marauders to keep the home side in touch, but the Gaels entered halftime with a 42-36 advantage, having held the hosts to just 37 per cent from the floor in the half.

Fortunes improved for McMaster in the third, as the hosts clawed back their deficit early and retook a lead at 45-44 with 6:45 to play after Sefa Otchere took care of a third rebound with a putback.

The two teams were content to trade baskets as the quarter progressed, with the Marauders trailing narrowly until the buzzer, when Henry was fouled from beyond the arc and made two of three free throws to give Mac a 55-54 lead.

Otchere energized the Burridge Gym crowd, and his teammates, with eight minutes remaining in regulation, when he peeled around a defender and rose for an emphatic dunk that moved Mac ahead 57-54.

Queen's continued to find success on the offensive end, however, and led by five after an and-one circus shot underneath from Jaz Bains swelled the score to 70-65 with 3:45 to play. Henry provided an immediate answer for the home side, nailing a three to keep Mac in touch.

With just 57 seconds remaining in regulation, Henry showed his composure to hit both foul shots and level the game at 76, and veteran guard David McCulloch answered the bell with a finger roll to give the Marauders the lead.

But after Harry Range tied things once again at 78, McCulloch's drive in the dying seconds was denied, sending the teams to overtime.

There, McMaster went ice cold offensively, and were outscored 10-2 over the course of the five minute period to limp to the loss.

NEXT UP: The Marauders head into the exam and holiday break through December, and will return to OUA play on January 4, when they travel to Waterloo to battle the Laurier Golden Hawks.