Reds Fall in AUS Semi-Final

(HALIFAX, NS) The UNB Reds dropped an 81-75 decision to the Dalhousie Tigers in the 2019 Subway AUS men's basketball semi-finals.

Will Legere (Amherst, NS), playing in his final U SPORTS game, led the Reds with 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Chris Spurrell (Quispamsis, NB) and Daniel Pitcher (Sydney, AUS) each scored 15 points for UNB.

"We're pretty disappointed," said Pitcher. "The boys put in the effort, but at the end of the day it didn't go our way."

Cedric Sanogo (Montreal, QC) scored a game-high 17 points to lead the Tigers, who will face the Saint Mary's Huskies in Sunday's AUS championship game.

The Reds were on fire from the opening tip.

Spurrell and Legere hit three point shots as the Reds built an early 12-6 lead.

With about 4:00 to play in the opening quarter, Pitcher sunk three point shots on back-to-back possesions as UNB went up 20-6.

As time wound down, UNB forced a Tigers turnover. Legere pushed the ball down court, feeding Spurrell who slammed home two more points.

UNB led 26-12 after one quarter.

The Reds hot hand cooled a little as the second half started.

UNB went scoreless over the first 1:30, while the Tigers poured in seven points, closing the gap to 26-19.

Doumbouya got UNB's first points of the quarter about 2:00 in on a nice spin move in the lane.

The Tigers kept cutting into the UNB lead and pulled even, 33-33, on a pair of free throws with 1:48 left in the half.

The Tigers completed a 17-point turnaround, leading 38-35 at the half.

"They started pressuring us and we were just kind of rushed a bit and weren't attacking the rim a lot, where they were attacking the rim and getting the calls, which was what we should've been doing," said Pitcher.

Dal held the momentum in the third quarter, outscoring the Reds 15-5 over the first five minutes, and taking a 53-40 lead.

At the end of 30:00, the Tigers had fashioned a 62-49 lead.

About 2:30 into the fourth, the Reds forced a turnover and Pitcher sent Spurrell in for an uncontested slam.

On the following possession, Ogot Ogot (Edmonton, AB) turned a lay-up into a three-point play with the foul on the basket. That closed the gap to eight, 64-56.

UNB would score on the next two possessions to trim Dal's lead to 64-60 with 6:15 to play.

With about 2:00 to play, Pitcher hit a three to tie the score 72-72.

But the Tigers were aggressive over the final two minutes, forcing UNB fouls, and taking a 77-72 lead after hitting free throws.

Dal was able to hold on to win 81-75, ending the Reds run as AUS champs.

"We should've won this game," said Legere, a fifth-year senior. "That's it, it's over. They're a tough team. You've got to give them credit."

In the end, the Tigers were able to take advantage of free throws, making 32 of 45.

The Reds were 13-for-19 from the line.

"You've got to be up ten points on any mainland team in this building to win and we weren't up ten, we were struggling to get back ten," said Reds head coach Brent Baker. "We had a great crowd here and it would've been nice to win the game, for sure."

Despite the outcome, Baker was pleased with his team's effort.

"I thought we came out with a good game plan, I thought the kids executed it well, I thought they played hard."

RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics

PHOTOS BY: Nick Pearce/for Atlantic University Sport