Huskies win 93-80 over Varsity Reds

(FREDERICTON, NB) Marquis Clayton (Halifax, NS) scored 31 points to lead the Saint Mary's Huskies to a 93-80 win over the UNB Varsity Reds on Friday night.

Eighteen of Clayton's points came in the first half.  Theon Reefer(Toronto, ON) chipped in 19 points and Achuil Lual (Ottawa, ON) hauled in a game-high 16 rebounds for the Huskies.

Jamaal Potopsingh (Brampton, ON) recorded a double-double in the Varity Reds loss, scoring 23 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Jesse Kendall (Guelph, ON) added 13 points.

Despite Clayton's hot hand, the Huskies led by just two, 46-44, at the half.  He added 13 more down the stretch, as SMU won the four-point contest.

"He's a hell of a player," said Huskies head coach Jonah Taussig, of Clayton. "You can't be fooled by his size. He's strong and he gets to the paint and he can finish with contact. We needed him today, and he played great." Clayton was named the Subway Player of the Game.

The fifth-year guard says when pressured early, the Huskies stayed together.

"At the beginning of the season, when teams were going on runs, we were folding, getting down on each other, as the season's gone on, we stick together, through it all."

"Clayton ate us up, 18 points in the first half and we didn't have any answer for him," said Varsity Reds head coach Brent Baker. "Our guys that were guarding him got into foul trouble and we didn't answer."  Baker says his team's effort wasn't good enough.

"If you don't show up, you're going to lose in this league," he said. "Even with your best effort, some nights, you're going to lose in this league."

Reigning AUS MVP Javon Masters (Kitchener, ON) left the game in the fourth quarter. He was helped off the court after suffering what appeared to be an ankle injury.

The Huskies visit the UPEI Panthers on Saturday, while the Varsity Reds host the Acadia Axemen. Both games are scheduled for 8:00pm tip-offs.

RECAP AND PHOTO BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics