The UNB Varsity Reds defeated the visiting Cape Breton University Capers by a score of 88-75.
UNB pulled ahead early, 8-1, with the help of some quality shooting from Quirion. The Capers fought back with some skilled play underneath the net from Arild Geugjes, making ground on the V-Reds,15-9. Will McFee padded the UNB lead with a three-point and-one, to close out the quarter in the lead, 20-11.
Ryan Smith kicked things off for the Varsity Reds in the second half with a long distance three to boost the lead 48-32. Quirion continued his stellar play, adding another long distance marker bringing his tally to 18. UNB's big-man Hussein Egal brought down some key balls, opening opportunities for Masters to sink four more points and creating a 59-41 lead.
In the final quarter both teams exchanged baskets early building up a 71-57 tally. The V-Reds continued to secure the baskets below the net; maintaining heavy pressure and forcing the Capers to take some undesired fouls. Masters flying through the air caught a pass from Smith to lay in a crowd-erupting layup, the score: 80-65. As the final buzzer sounded the Varsity Reds were victorious with a score of 88-75.
Coach Brent Baker expressed his pleasure in his team's performance saying, "We made some key shots tonight, Javon and Dan got it going from the perimeter, and it was good to see Ryan out there. Our intensity was a heck of a lot better than last week."
With the win the Varsity Reds clinch fifth place in the AUS conference looking forward to the playoffs. First, however the Varsity Reds will take on the St. FX X-Men at 8:00pm on Saturday night at the Richard J. Currie Center in their final game of the regular season.
"They're gonna be a tough game, because they're going at it hard with PEI tonight, we'll be at it tomorrow with them… If we execute and tighten up our defense game, we're gonna have a good chance of winning," continued Baker.
Tom Wilson, UNB Sports Information
Photo Credit: Sara Badibanga