Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer
Huskies advance to AUS semifinal with 68-64 win over Panthers
Posted: Feb 23, 2024

Huskies advance to AUS semifinal with 68-64 win over Panthers

Photos Box Score
Game Leaders
UPEI
Pts: Kamari Scott - 21
Reb: Daniel Gonzalez long - 12
Ast: Kamari Scott - 4
Saint Mary's
Pts: 2 Players (#03, #08) - 22
Reb: Marc-Denault Gabriel - 11
Ast: Shae Linton-Brown - 4
Team Stats
Full stats

HALIFAX, NS - Saint Mary's guards Shae Linton-Brown and Jayrell Diggs each scored 22 points, leading the Huskies to a dramatic 68-64 win over the UPEI Panthers in the Atlantic University Sport men's basketball quarterfinal on Friday night at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax.

"We just stayed resilient, followed the coaches game-plan and it was a tough game but we stayed together and got the result," said Linton-Brown post-game.

Saint Mary's got off to a quick start, with Shae Linton-Brown (Toronto, ON) driving strong to the hoop for an and-one lay-in to put the Huskies up 5-2 early. 

The Huskies added to their lead when Jackson Enyinna (Port Harcourt, Nigeria) finished off a nice passing play in close, while guard Jayrell Diggs (East Preston, NS) hit a driving runner.

UPEI responded with a 10-4 run to close out the quarter to cut the deficit to 19-14.

The Huskies hung on to their lead for the entire second period, with the teams trading baskets. When the halftime buzzer sounded, the Huskies held a narrow 33-31 lead.

It didn't take long for UPEI to take the lead following the break, as Jace Colley (East Preston, N.S.) nailed a 3-point shot just 41 seconds into the third to go up 34-33.

Two minutes later, Chinonso Njelita (Winnipeg, Man.) sank a jump shot to increase the UPEI lead to 38-33.

The Huskies stormed back with an 11-0 run to take back the lead heading into the final quarter of play.

SMU extended their lead to nine early on in the fourth quarter, however, another run by UPEI put them back into it. Before you knew it, a Kamari Scott (Malton, Ont.) jumper put the Panthers up 64-63 with just over three minutes remaining.

The lead didn't last long. Eleven seconds, to be exact, as Diggs hit his own jumpshot, followed by a steal and score from Linton-Brown, giving the Huskies a 67-64 lead that they would not relinquish the rest of the way.

Diggs capped things off by making good on one of two free throws with seconds left to send everyone home.

Shae Linton-Brown stuffed the stat-sheet with 22 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals, earning Player of the Game honours for the Huskies. Jayrell Diggs chipped in 22 of his own, with 14 coming after halftime, and Marc-Denault Gabriel controlled the glass with a game-high 11 rebounds, adding nine points, six steals and three assists. 

Panthers guard Kamari Scott paced the Panthers with 21 points, nine rebounds, four assists. Former Husky Jace Colley added 15 points and seven rebounds, and forward Daniel Gonzalez Longarela posted a 10-point, 12-rebound double-double.

With the win, the Huskies will advance to the AUS semifinal, where they will take on the #2 seed Dalhousie Tigers at 8:30 p.m. Saturday at the Scotiabank Centre. GET TICKETS

"That will be a tough game, they've got the MVP so we've got to make him take tough shots, but if we rebound, defend well and limit our turnovers we can beat anybody," said Linton-Brown on the matchup with Dalhousie. "I know it will be a fun game. I hope it is a packed house, I love those games."

Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics, with files from Atlantic University Sport
Photos by Nick Pearce / Atlantic University Sport