REDS Suffer Second Loss In Sydney

(SYDNEY, NS) The Cape Breton University Capers scored a 78-67 win over the UNB REDS in Atlantic University Sport men's basketball action on Saturday, in Sydney.

With the win, the Capers improve to 2-and-0, while the REDS are now 0-and-2.

The Capers outscored the REDS 29-11 in the pivotal fourth quarter, ignited by a 13-point effort from veteran guard Shak Pryce (Pickering, ON), to secure the victory.

Led by the interior effort of Connor Lindell (St. Catharines, ON), at both ends of the floor, the visiting REDS took an early 6-0 edge in the first quarter. CBU took their first lead, at 10-8. Sparked by an 18-6 spurt, after the REDS opened with six consecutive points, the CAPERS led 18-14 after the first quarter.

In the second quarter, UNB sunk the first eight points, highlighted by a four-point play by Marcus Barnes (Kitchener, ON), who was fouled on a made three-point basket, which gave his team a 22-18 lead. Later in the stanza, after an acrobatic spin to the hoop by Jeven Eddy (Ajax, ON), the REDS were up 30-20. On the strength of back-to-back highlight reel dunks from Liai Tong (St. John's NL), the Capers sliced the deficit to 33-26. Barnes canned a three-pointer later in the quarter, which helped his REDS take a 36-28 edge to the locker room at half-time. 

In the third quarter, Aaron Cunningham (Shelburne, ON) scored eight straight points to give CBU a 41-40 edge. Keyed by three three-pointers from Eden Otshudi (Hamilton, ON), the REDS rallied and took a 54-49 lead into the fourth quarter.

In the fourth, Pryce not only filled the basket, but also found his teammates, including Tafarian Black (Scarborough, ON), who nailed back-to-back baskets from downtown. Mark Tobin (Mount Pearl, NL), after a strong finish at the rim and then taking a charge, helped the REDS get within six points, at 72-66, but they could not get any closer. 

Pryce finished with a game-high 18 points, while chipping in eight assists.

Barnes, who added six rebounds and three assists, and Otshudi led the REDS with 16 points each. Landell fashioned a double-double, 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Tobin hit double digits with 10 points. Eddy added a game-high 11 rebounds. 

CBU will return to the court on Thursday, when they travel to STFX.

The REDS will be back in action on Saturday, when they host the Dalhousie Tigers in their home opener.

Both games are scheduled to tip at 8:00pm.

RECAP BY: Corey LeBlanc/for CBU Athletics

PHOTOS BY: Vaughan Merchant/for CBU Athletics