Seven Up: Marc-Denault Gabriel making big impact on Huskies seven-game win streak

The Saint Mary's Huskies men's basketball team are the hottest team in Atlantic University Sport, having won seven straight games to begin the 2024 calendar year.

A key factor in the Huskies seven game streak has been the play of number seven on the court – Marc-Denault Gabriel, a 6'4" guard from Montreal, QC, who is in his first season with the Huskies.

Born and raised in Montreal, the son of hard-working Haitian immigrants, Gabriel's recent basketball journey has taken him from coast-to-coast, but he says he feels at home in Halifax.

"I played last season at SAIT in Calgary, and we won the CCAA National Championship, but my goal has always been to play in U SPORTS and get a great university education," said Gabriel. "When Coach Jonah (Taussig) recruited me and I came to visit Saint Mary's, I felt like it was home. I really enjoyed the campus and feel of Halifax, and I could tell that this team could become a family."

The Huskies started the season slowly with a 2-6 league record heading into the December break. But Gabriel says that even when the wins weren't coming, the team was building chemistry that has helped turn their season around.

"I feel like first semester, a lot of us were new and it took a little bit of time for us to come together and understand how to best play as a team," says Gabriel. "When I went home to Montreal for winter break, Jayrell (Diggs, Huskies guard) dropped me off at the airport, and I remember saying '2024 is going to be ours'. I just felt that we were all becoming closer friends, and when we came back, it was almost like we became a family, everybody hanging out after practice, and every player on the team is bringing something."

Over the Huskies seven game win-streak, Gabriel is averaging 17.2 points per game on 51% FG and 75% FT, along with 12.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. His strong play has been recognized by the conference and university, as he was named AUS Male Athlete of the Week on Jan. 30, and Saint Mary's Male Athlete of the Week for the weeks of Jan. 22-28 and Jan. 8-14.

As a 6'4" guard, perhaps the most impressive part of Gabriel's game is his rebounding, as he leads all of U SPORTS with 12.1 rebounds per game.

"I'm from Montreal, and we're all dogs in Montreal. Growing up I played a physical game and so I always went for the rebounds and I do the same here," says Gabriel. "Sometimes I'm surprised in the game actually, like 'why are people not jumping for this ball', but I just always go for it, I'm a dog, I want to play hard and do whatever helps my team win."

Huskies fans who have attended recent games at the Homburg Centre can't miss the energy Gabriel brings on the court – flying in for rebounds, hitting the floor for loose balls and always hyping up his teammates and his fans.

"I think the coaches look at me as an energy guy, so I try to bring that every day," says Gabriel. "Even in practice, my coaches and teammates are always hyping me up, and I think that makes us all closer. Anything I can do to make the team better, I'll do it."

"Marc has been incredible for us this year. He's a mismatch for a lot of players in this league with his strength and quickness," says Huskies head coach Jonah Taussig. "He's a pleasure to coach, his energy is contagious on-and-off the court, and he's been a huge part of the team's turnaround this season."

The last three years of Gabriel's basketball journey has seen him play for three different teams, in three different cities, but he says he feels at home in Halifax and looks forward to spending multiple seasons with the Huskies.

"I really like how friendly the people are here in Nova Scotia," explains Gabriel. "When I was in Calgary, it was a little bit harder for me to speak to people, because my first language is French, and sometimes when they couldn't understand my English they didn't even try, but here in Halifax I feel like more people make an effort to talk to me and get to know me, and being away from home that helps a lot."

The Huskies seven game win streak currently has them in second position in the conference standings, with an inside track on a playoff berth – something that Gabriel says he's been thinking about a lot.

"I remember watching last year's U SPORTS Nationals and thinking, 'wow, I wish I could play one day in that arena', and then when I committed here, they told me that the AUS Playoffs are in that arena, so I've been visualizing that all season."

"The AUS is a good league, not an easy league at all. As you can see this season, any team can beat anyone, so that makes every night competitive. We just need to keep working and keep winning. Now that we're a family and we've got chemistry, I feel like we can win every game… I don't know who can stop us for real."

The Huskies will look for their eighth straight win this Friday, Feb. 2, as they host the UNB REDS at the Homburg Centre at 8 p.m. GET TICKETS