Capers defeat Huskies 102-91
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Saint Mary's (4-4, 4-4) | 25 | 10 | 26 | 30 | 91 |
|
Cape Breton (3-5, 3-5) | 19 | 31 | 22 | 30 | 102 |
SYDNEY, N.S. - Led by 34 points by guard Jason Callaghan, the Cape Breton Capers defeated the Saint Mary's Huskies 102-91 on Friday night in Sydney, N.S.
Although the pace steadily quickened as the first quarter opened, both sides had difficulty finding the basket.
HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��
— SMU Huskies (@SMUHuskies) November 19, 2022
Topaz Nnani breaks out the skyhook to give @SMUMensBBall a 12-11 lead in the first half �� #WagTheTail
Watch live: https://t.co/LYMOR1Vvoi pic.twitter.com/VhDNVPD6ms
After Saint Mary's forward Ethan Vey (Conception Bay, NL) and AUS leading scorer Osman 'Ozzy' Omar (Mississauga, ON) exchanged three-pointers, the sides were deadlocked 17-17.
The Huskies – on the strength of an 8-2 spurt, one keyed by a shot from beyond the arc drained by Jonas Maerz (Rosenheim, Germany) – led 25-19 after the first quarter.
HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS �� @_Shaebrown15 drops a dime to Aidan MacDonald to give the Huskies a 20-19 lead in the first period. #TailWaggin pic.twitter.com/OB7Dor2qbJ
— SMU Huskies (@SMUHuskies) November 19, 2022
Early in the second quarter, after an electrifying drive to the basket for two from fifth-year guard Dontae Mitchell (Vaughan, ON), the Huskies increased their edge to 29-20.
From there, it became the Callaghan show, one that sparked the Capers to their impressive lead midway through the contest.
With his team trailing 29-23 early in the second quarter, Callaghan made the second of two free throws to trim the Saint Mary's advantage to five points. And, by the time another Caper hit the scoresheet later in the stanza, he had tallied 18 consecutive points to give his team a 38-33 edge.
Finishing with 26 points at halftime, the CBU veteran had fashioned his scoring explosion in a variety of ways, including drives to the basket, jumpers off one leg in the paint and three-point shots from long distance.
The Capers, who outscored the Huskies 31-10 in the second quarter, took at 50-35 to the locker room at halftime.
In the third quarter, Saint Mary's started to chip away at the 15-point halftime deficit; ignited by back-to-back three-pointers from Sam Gillett (Halifax, NS).
After a steal and basket from Shae Linton-Brown (Toronto, ON), the Huskies pulled within seven points, trailing 62-55.
Key baskets by Omar, along with newcomers Justus Peuser (Geisenheim, Germany) and Live Kivuvu (Harrow, England) the Capers kept the Huskies at bay.
Although the visitors outscored CBU 26-22 in the third, the home team led by double digits – 72-61 – heading to the fourth quarter.
Early in the final stanza, Saint Mary's – ignited by scoring from Mitchell and Linton-Brown – shaved the Caper advantage to 74-67.
HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��
— SMU Huskies (@SMUHuskies) November 19, 2022
Back-to-back buckets for @DontaeMitchell to cut the Capers lead to four. @SMUMensBBall pic.twitter.com/9NbTeiMXrO
Spurred by a Peuser three-pointer and interior scoring from Tyson Cato (Ajax, ON), CBU restored a double-digit edge – at 84-74 – with six minutes remaining in regulation.
Midway through the fourth-quarter, off the fast break, Linton-Brown sank a soaring three-pointer to make it 85-82 for CBU.
HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS �� @_Shaebrown15 hits the deep three to cut the Capers lead to three. pic.twitter.com/XTkJA1xp3q
— SMU Huskies (@SMUHuskies) November 19, 2022
After another Linton-Brown three-pointer and a lay-up from Maerz, the rivals were deadlocked 87-87 with just more than three minutes remaining in the game.
Seconds later, the Huskies took a two-point edge, when Jackson Enyinna (Port Harcourt, Nigeria) finished off an assist from Linton-Brown.
HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��
— SMU Huskies (@SMUHuskies) November 19, 2022
THERE'S A REASON HIS TWITTER NAME IS 'THESBSHOW' @_Shaebrown15! Linton-Brown hits from deep again and Jonas Maerz with the steal and score to tie it up at 87-87. @SMUMensBBall pic.twitter.com/KLi3Ygpj5Y
After consecutive baskets from Peuser and five straight points from Omar, including an old-fashioned three-point play, the CBU regained the lead – a seven-point advantage – at 96-89, with just more than 90 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Capers finished the game on a 15-2 run to secure the victory.
Callaghan – the Subway player of the game – led all scorers with 34 points, on a sensational 13-for-19 from the field, while adding six rebounds and five assists. Omar and Kivuvu scored 18 apiece, while Peuser added 12. Cato contributed a monster double-double – 15 points and 21 rebounds – while adding five assists.
For the Huskies, Linton-Brown finished with a team-high 27 points, while adding 10 rebounds, nine assists and three steals, as part of a double-double performance.
Maerz and Mitchell – with 20 and 17 points, respectively – also finished with double-digit scoring games for Saint Mary's. Enyinna collected eight points and 13 rebounds in the loss.
The Capers win improved their record to 2-5 on the season. They'll return to the hardwood on Friday, Nov. 25, when they welcome the UNB REDS to Sullivan Fieldhouse, with tip-off at 6 p.m.
The Huskies loss dropped their record to 4-3 on the campign. They will be back in action on Wednesday, Nov. 23, when they host the Acadia Axewomen at the Homburg Centre, with tip-off at 6 p.m. GET TICKETS
Recap by Corey LeBlanc / CBU Capers Athletics
Photos by Vaughan Merchant / CBU Capers Athletics
