Tigers defeat Huskies 81-61 in regular season finale

HALIFAX, NS – The Dalhousie Tigers finished off the regular season with a 81-61 win over the Saint Mary's Huskies in Atlantic University Sport men's basketball action on Friday night at the Homburg Centre.

It was senior night for the Huskies, as they honoured graduating seniors Jackson Enyinna (Port Harcourt, Nigeria) and Eliel Nsoseme (Kinshasa, DRC) with a pre-game ceremony.

On a night when the Huskies rested many of their top players, it was Tigers veteran guard Lydell Husbands-Browne (Halifax, NS) who got the visitors off to an early start. Husbands-Browne got the rim at will on his way to 10 first quarter points.

Huskies first year guard Jude Cameron (Bedford, NS) attempted to match Husbands-Browne output, as he put up eight first quarter points on perfect 4/4 shooting from the floor.

A late jump shot from Huskies guard Aidan MacDonald (Tantallon, NS) cut the Tigers lead to 18-17 after the first quarter of play.

The second quarter was the Caleb Stewart (Stevensville, ON) show, as the Tigers forward scored 11 points on perfect 5/5 shooting. It was a family affair for the Stewart's with Caleb and his twin brother Riley suiting up for the Tigers, and matching up against their older brother, Huskies forward Micah Stewart, who dropped a pair of three-pointers on his way to six second quarter points.

Micah Stewart's second three gave the Huskies a 39-31 lead with 1:41 remaining in the second quarter, but the Tigers scored back-to-back buckets to cut the deficit to 39-35 at halftime.

The third quarter saw Husbands-Browne take over again, as he poured in 12 points. A highlight reel steal and slam from Huskies first year wing Zack Walker (Bedford, NS) brought the Homburg Centre crowd to their feet, but the Tigers offence was clicking on all cylinders, as they poured in 29 points on 11/18 shooting in the third quarter and took a 64-54 lead into the fourth.

Saint Mary's offensive struggles continued in the fourth quarter, as they scored just seven points on 1/9 from the floor. Tigers guard Giovanni Ajiamah (Winnipeg, MB) scored six points in the fourth quarter, including a highlight reel slam of his own, and the Tigers coasted for the 81-61 victory.

The Tigers were paced by guard Lydell Husbands-Browne, who was named Player of the Game after scoring 22 points and adding seven assists. Forward Caleb Stewart chipped in 19 points an six rebounds, and guard Giovanni Ajiamah chipped in a career-high 12 points.

The Huskies were led in defeat by guard Jude Cameron, who put up a career-high 17 points on 6/10 from the field. Aidan MacDonald added 13 points and Micah Stewart chipped in 10 for the Huskies.

The Huskies finish the regular season with a 8-12 record, good for the sixth seed in the AUS heading into next weekend's AUS Championship, being played Feb. 28-March 2 at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax. The Huskies will play in the #3 vs. #6 quarterfinal on Friday, Feb. 28 at 8:30 p.m., with their opponent to be determined. GET TICKETS

The Tigers finish the season with a 7-13 record, missing out on a playoff berth.

Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics
Photos by Mona Ghiz / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics