REDS Earn First Win Of Season

(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS earned their first win of the Atlantic University Sport men's basketball season on Sunday afternoon, an 85-61 win over the Dalhousie Tigers at UNB's Richard J. Currie Center.

Tim Ellison (Halifax, NS) recorded a double-double to lead the REDS, scoring 13 points and pulling down a game-high 17 rebounds.

"It feels good," said Ellison, named Tim Horton's Player of the Game. "We had a really good exhibition season, so starting 0-and-3 was kind of disappointing, but it looks like we're back on track now."

Less the four minutes in, the two teams had already combined for 20 points and were deadlocked 10-10.

Riding three-point baskets by Matthias Muscroft (Sussex, NB) and Eden Otshudi (Hamilton, ON), the REDS pulled ahead 20-13 on route to leading 23-16 after one quarter.

In an even second quarter, the REDS were able to maintain their seven point advantage, taking a 40-33 lead to the half-time break.

UNB opened a 23-point lead in the third, taking a 67-44 advantage to the final period.

Physical play dominated the second half and led to an altercation near the Tigers bench mid-way through the final quarter.

The incident led to the disqualification of REDS' forward Connor Landell (St. Catharines, ON).

The REDS kept the Tigers at arm's length the rest of the way, winning by 24.

Sunday's win came less than 24 hours after Dal's 72-53 win on Saturday.

"Our coaches made some adjustments to some of our plays that opened up our spacing a little more to give our shooters better looks and we scored the most points we've scored all year, so I think it helped us," said Ellison.

Spencer Riar (Montreal, QC) led Dal, coming off the bench to score 12 points. Dolu Johnson (Caledonia, ON) also came off the Tigers bench and scored 10.

The Dal bench outscored their starters 41-20.

Muscroft led the REDS' offence, scoring 21 points on 7-for-11 shooting and dishing out four assists.

Marcus Barnes (Kitchener, ON) scored 20 and Otshudi finished the day with 17 points and five assists.

"We can build on this in practice and have good practices this week," said Ellison. "That was almost a 25-point win, so it was pretty handedly, so I think that means we can hopefully stack up with X and get two more next weekend."

With the win, the REDS improve to 1-and-3 while Dal falls to 1-and-3.

The Tigers return home to face the Cape Breton Capers, Friday at 8:00pm.

The REDS remain on home court next weekend. They host the STFX X-Men in a weekend series that starts Friday. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00pm.

RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics

PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics