Varsity Reds Down Hurricanes

(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB Varsity Reds hung on to beat the visiting Holland College Hurricanes 97-91, in exhibition play, Thursday afternoon, at the Richard J. Currie Center.

Javon Masters(Kitchener, ON) led the Varsity Reds, scoring a game-high 25 points.

Jamaal Potopsingh(Brampton, ON) added 12 points, and pulled down 5 rebounds, while Hess Mayele(Montreal, QC) scored 11 points off the bench.

Trenity Burdine(Reading, PA) had 23 points for the Hurricanes, while Abel Joseph(Nassau, BAH) scored 17 points and collected 9 rebounds.

The Varsity Reds, tied for third in the Atlantic University Sport standings, led 56-36 at the half.

The Hurricanes, 7-0 in the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Conference and the top-ranked team in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association, rallied with 32 third quarter points.

The Hurricanes continued to eat into the Varsity Reds lead in the fourth quarter, coming to within two points with less than five minutes to play.

A Kaleefah Henry(Brampton, ON) three-point shot pushed the lead back to five points, and UNB was able to hang on for the 97-91 win.

"Our guys played not to lose, instead of playing to win, and there's a difference," said Varsity Reds head coach Brent Baker. "You just can't show up and it happens. You've got to play every day and you've got to practice over the break, and some of our guys haven't practiced over the break… enough, and it shows."

"In the second half, we showed we can hang around," said Hurricanes head coach Josh Whitty. "If we'd had a little bit better of a first half, maybe we're right there coming down the stretch."

The Varsity Reds and Hurricanes will meet again Friday afternoon. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:30PM.