UNB tops CBU 79-63 in big four-point match-up

The UNB Varsity Reds men's basketball team managed to pull ahead and stay there to pick up a 79-63 win over the Cape Breton Capers in front of 768 fans at the Richard J. CURRIE CENTER.

The early part of the game had CBU out ahead, with the Capers up 29-22 halfway through the second quarter. From that point on, though, the Varsity Reds started to pull back and UNB went into halftime up by one point, 35-34.

In the second half, UNB had its defensive game firmly in hand, and that coupled with some strong three-point shooting and good stats from the free throw line gave them enough space to run away with a wide-margin of a win.

Leading the scoring for the Varsity Reds was Javon Masters, who showed why he ranks among the top-two scorers in the AUS with an impressive 34 points. Masters also was nearly perfect from the line, making 11 of 12 free throws and was named Subway Player of the Game. Leading the defensive game for UNB was Nikola Mandic with 13 rebounds. 

Leading scoring for the Capers was Cedric Kasongo with 19 points and Tevoun Jackson with 16 points.

"I thought in the first half we didn't really bring our defensive energy," Masters said.

"But I think in the second half once we got defensive rebounds and then we started to run, I think we opened up the game a little bit and ended up with a 16-point win, which is really good for us."

Masters says it feels good to rack up a win against a tough team like the Capers, but that UNB's next challenge against UPEI will be just as hard.

"They say that they're the best so we'll have to bring it and hopefully get that win to jump over them in the standings and get first place."

The Varsity Reds play next when they travel to UPEI on January 24.

The Capers play next when they host UPEI on January 30.