Memorial Holds Off REDS
(FREDERICTON, NB) The Memorial Sea-Hawks weren't about to let it happen again.
After giving up a lead and losing to the UNB REDS on Saturday, the Sea-Hawks held on and beat the REDS 79-73 Sunday, splitting the weekend series of four-point games.
Boris Ristanovic (Kragujevac, SER) led the visitors with 19 points, earning Subway Player of the Game honours.
Cole Long (St. John's, NL) added 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
"We wanted to win two, but unfortunately we lost yesterday," said Long. "At least we're going home on a high note and ending the first half well."
The Sea-Hawks burst from the gate, doubling the REDS first quarter effort and building an 18-9 lead after 10 minutes.
They scored the first four points of the second quarter and looked poised to run away with Sunday's game, but the REDS stayed close.
As the second half wound down, UNB's Norm Burry (Grafton, NB) logged a basket and drew a foul, and hit the free throw, as UNB crept to within four, at 28-24.
At the half, the 'Hawks were up 32-24.
In the third, the REDS worked to keep it close, trailing 41-37 mid-way through the frame.
In the final seconds of the quarter, Sterling Simpson (Fredericton, NB) hit a three-point shot that pulled the REDS even, 56-56.
Memorial managed to regain and maintain a slim lead in the fourth quarter, but a Chris Spurrell (Quispamsis, NB) three-pointer with 6:00 to play evened the score again, 64-64.
The Sea-Hawks responded with a 6-0 run, capped by a Flynn Boardman-Raffet (London, UK) jumper, to go ahead 70-64.
The REDS would make it interesting, but the Sea-Hawks would hold on for the victory.
"It was definitely a disappointing loss," said REDS' guard Reese Zorogole, who scored a game-high 20 points. "We feel like we could've won. There were some breakdowns going down the stretch. I feel like we could've done things differently and had a different outcome."
Burry ended the day with 15 points and five rebounds, while Simpson came off the REDS bench to score eight.
"It was us not executing," said Zorogole."We had some turnovers down the stretch, some defensive lapses. I feel like it was on us. I don't think they did anything elaborate to take us out of our groove. It was more us."
"One thing we struggle with is turnovers, so we really focused on limiting our turnovers and valuing our possessions. It was a big focus for us today," said Long.
Each team is now 4-and-4.
The win ends the first half schedule for the Sea-Hawks. They won't see action again until January 8th, when they visit Cape Breton.
The REDS wrap-up their first semester on Saturday, when they visit the Capers for a scheduled 3:00pm start.
RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics
PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics