REDS Win Big At Saint Mary's
(HALIFAX, NS) The UNB REDS made 15 three-pointers on their way to beating the Saint Mary's Huskies 88-63 in Atlantic University Sport men's basketball action, Friday night in Halifax.
"This was a big time win for our group tonight," said REDS' head coach Joe Salerno. "Our backs are against the wall right now, and for two straight games we've played like it."
The REDS perimeter attack began in the opening minute of the game, as guard Marcus Barnes (Kitchener, ON) hit a deep three to open the scoring.
Huskies guard Marc-Denault Gabriel (Montreal, QC) responded with an and-one lay-in, but the REDS offence kept coming, as forward Jeven Eddy (Ajax, ON) hit a three-pointer and a lay-in on consecutive plays.
REDS guard Eden Otshudi (Hamilton, ON) came off the bench to hit a trio of triples in the first quarter, as the visitors lead ballooned to 23-7, before Huskies guard Tjark Lademacher (Luneburg, Germany) hit a late three-pointer, with the REDS taking a 26-12 after the first 10 minutes.
The second quarter saw the REDS continue their barrage of three-pointers, with Otshudi hitting two more and Brandon Laryea (Crawley, UK) adding one of his own.
On the other end, the Huskies offence struggled to get going, with the REDS focusing defensive pressure on stand-out Huskies' guards Jayrell Diggs (East Preston, NS) and Shae Linton-Brown (Toronto, ON). A pair of big dunks by centre Javordo Mitchell (Woodbridge, ON) were the exclamation point on the REDS outstanding first half.
The REDS took a commanding 49-22 lead into the break, boosted by 45% shooting (9/20) from beyond the arc, led by Otshudi who scored 17 first half points off the bench.
The Huskies offence looked to have found a spark to begin the third quarter, with back-to-back three-pointers by Diggs and Linton-Brown cutting the REDS lead to 52-32. That's when REDS forward Norm Burry (Grafton, NB) got going offensively, making a pair of jump shots and two free-throws to push the lead to 60-32.
Lademacher continued to provide a boost off the Huskies bench, hitting a late three, but UNB's Vegas Evans (Brampton, ON) countered with a three of his own to beat the third quarter buzzer and give the REDS a 69-43 after 30 minutes.
REDS guard Reese Zorogole (Halifax, NS) hit a late shot-clock beating three to secure the 88-63 victory.
"Guys came out locked in, they executed on the defensive side of the ball, and played an extremely unselfish game on the offensive side," said Coach Salerno. "This was a true team effort tonight, and we needed everyone on board to get it done. Multiple guys contributed and stepped up when their name was called."
Otshudi led the team with 17 points, all scored in the first half, and was named Player of the Game.
Burry chipped in 16 points and seven rebounds, while Evans added 11 points and four steals and Mitchell contributed 10 points and six rebounds off the REDS bench.
The Huskies were led by 13 points from each of Devawn White (Montreal, QC) and Linton-Brown.
The REDS win snaps the Huskies' seven game win-streak and dropped SMU's record to 9-7. Saint Mary's will be back in action, on home court, on Thursday as they host Acadia.
The REDS second straight win improves their record to 7-9.
UNB sits in a three-way tie for fifth place in the AUS standings.
The REDS are back in action Saturday night, visiting Acadia for an 8:00pm start.
RECAP BY: Allan April/SMU Athletics
PHOTOS BY: Mona Ghiz/for SMU Athletics