Sea-Hawks Hold Off REDS

(FREDERICTON, NB) A slow start followed the UNB REDS all night long in a 93-85 loss to the Memorial Sea-Hawks on Saturday night.

Emmanuel Ring (St. John's, NL) led Memorial with 32 points while Flynn Boardman-Raffet (London, UK) had 22 points and 11 rebounds to earn Subway Player of the Game.

 "It feels great," he said, of the win. "Last year, we were one and seven on the road and one of our goals this year was to get some wins on the road. We're happy with it, but we've got a job to complete, it's half a job, we've got tomorrow."

Norm Burry (Grafton, NB) and Vegas Evans (Brampton, ON) led the REDS with 24 points each in defeat.

The REDS came out flat to start the game as the Sea-Hawks opened an early 11-3 lead.

UNB would then gather their composure and put up eight straight points, including two three-pointers from Evans, to make it 11-11. 

The two teams would take turns with the lead through the back half of the quarter, with Memorial holding a 24-22 advantage heading to the second.

Memorial would have the better start again in the second, opening the quarter on a 7-2 run to go up 31-24.

UNB would answer with a 7-2 run of their own to pull within two at 33-31.

The REDS kept pace for most of the quarter from there, before surrendering the last five points of the half to trail the Sea-Hawks 52-44 at the break.

"They got shots in the paint all night," said REDS head coach Joe Salerno. "They outscored us 42-28 in the paint, they're a good team, they have some size on us and some great players."

UNB would play a tight third quarter but could not make up any ground as they trailed the Sea-Hawks 74-63 into the fourth quarter.

Memorial continued to keep the REDS at arm's length through the final stretch, coming away with the 93-85 victory.

"We had some plays where we were finding success and we just kept going to them," said Boardman-Raffet. "We made adjustments as well. We had certain looks that we really liked and they were falling, so we decided to keep going to them."

The REDS drop to 0-3 with the loss while the Sea-Hawks are now 2-1.

These two teams meet again Sunday afternoon at UNB's Currie Center. Game time is 2:00pm.

RECAP BY: Jonathon James/for UNB Athletics

PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics