Capers clinch playoff spot with 106-86 win over Huskies

HALIFAX, NS - Cape Breton guard Osman Omar (Mississauga, ON) and forward Tyson Cato (Ajax, ON) combined for 51 points and 24 rebounds, as the Capers defeated the Huskies 106-86 at the Homburg Centre on Friday night.

Prior to the Huskies final home game of the regular season, the team honoured graduating seniors Dontae Mitchell (Vaughan, ON) and Sam Gillett (Halifax, NS).

The Capers got off to an early start, with forward Chris Ruta (Calgary, AB) pouring in nine first quarter points, including a three and alley-oop slam to put the visitors ahead 19-6, just five minutes into the first quarter.

Saint Mary's was able to cut into the lead, with guard Jayrell Diggs (East Preston, NS) and forward Kenny Ngassoue (Scarborough, ON) combining for 11 of the team's 15 first quarter points, but the Capers led 26-15 after 10 minutes.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Dontae Mitchell with a tough finish in traffic to cut the Capers lead to 11, early in the second quarter. pic.twitter.com/iG6rylBiC9

— SMU Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 18, 2023

The Huskies battled back in the second quarter, with a three by reserve guard Jonas Maerz (Rosenheim, Germany) cutting the lead to 30-26. But the Capers own German point guard Justus Peuser (Geisenheim, Germany) responded with back-to-back threes of his own, on his way to eight second quarter points, and the Capers took a 50-41 lead into the half.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Jayrell Diggs finishes off a nice play to cut the Capers lead to 10. pic.twitter.com/lWGBthN24Z

— SMU Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 18, 2023

The Capers were led by 15 first-half points by league leading scorer Omar, while Peuser chipped in 10. The Huskies were led by 17 points from Jayrell Diggs, while Maerz, Ngassoue and guard Ethan Vey (Conception Bay, NL) combined to score 16 points off the bench, as the Huskies bench outscored the Capers 16-7.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Jonah Crowther gets a three point play to go to cut the Capers lead to 10. pic.twitter.com/Ohso10uspS

— SMU Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 18, 2023

The Huskies and Capers traded baskets through the first three minutes of the third quarter, with Omar and Huskies guard Shae Linton-Brown (Toronto, ON) hitting back-to-back threes.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Jonas Maerz has eyes in the back of his head! Finds Shae Linton-Brown for the three! pic.twitter.com/L8QrP6JYsP

— SMU Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 18, 2023

But the Capers nine-point lead proved to be insurmountable, as the Huskies were able to cut it to nine several times in the quarter, but a late Cape Breton run finished off by a Cato lay-up gave the visitors a 79-63 lead into the final quarter.

Cato and Omar continued their strong play in the fourth quarter, combining for 18 points, while Huskies senior guard Dontae Mitchell scored seven in his final quarter at the Homburg Centre, and the Capers took the win 106-86.

Capers guard Osman Omar was named Subway Player of the Game with a game-high 28 points, and added 11 rebounds, five steals and three assists. Forward Tyson Cato stuffed the stat sheet with 23 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and two steals, Justus Peuser added 18 points, and Chris Ruta chipped in 12 points, nine rebounds and three blocks.

The Huskies were led by guard Jayrell Diggs with 20 points – his fourth straight game scoring 20+ – and a team-high six assists. Mitchell added 14 points and eight rebounds, Linton-Brown added 13 points, five rebounds and four assists and Jonas Maerz scored 12 off the bench.

The win improves the Capers record to 9-10 on the season and clinched a spot in the AUS Championships. They'll stay in Halifax to take on the Dalhousie Tigers (11-8) on Saturday night at 8 p.m. at the Dalplex.

The Huskies loss drops their record to 8-11 on the campaign. They'll hit the road to Antigonish, N.S. on Saturday to take the St. FX X-Men (16-3), in a must-win game to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Recap by Lauren Phillips / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics
Photos by Mona Ghiz / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics