Sea-Hawks defeat Huskies 80-74 despite 22 points from Diggs

HALIFAX, NS – Saint Mary's guard Jayrell Diggs poured in a game-high 22 points, but it wasn't enough to defeat the Memorial Sea-Hawks, who won 80-74 in Atlantic University Sport Men's Basketball action on Friday night at the Homburg Centre in Halifax.

The first quarter saw back-and-forth action, but a three-pointer from forward Norm Burry (Grafton, NB) followed by a driving lay-in from guard Jojo Moudiandambu (Hamilton, ON), saw the Sea-Hawks take a 19-10 lead.

The Huskies got a spark off their bench from guard Aidan MacDonald (Timberlea, NS), who scored six first quarter points, and cut the lead to 21-19 after 10 minutes of play.

The Huskies opened the second quarter on a run, with a steal and dunk from guard Devawn White (Montreal, QC) giving Saint Mary's a 23-21 lead.

Huskies all-star guard Jayrell Diggs broke out in the second quarter, scoring 10 points, including a three-pointer to put the Huskies ahead 43-40, but Sea-Hawks guard Wyatt Vanhooren (Calgary, AB) responded with a three of his own to tie it at 43-43 at the half.

The Huskies were led in the first half by Diggs' 10 points, but received 16 points off their bench including seven from Devawn White and six from Aidan MacDonald. The Sea-Haws were paced by Norm Burry with 12 points, and forward Cameron Stanford (St. John's, NL) with 10.

The back-and-forth action continued into the third quarter -  a three-pointer from guard Rivers Defers (Auckland, NZ) gave the Sea-Hawks a 61-55 lead, but first year Huskies wing Mason Thurber (Bedford, NS) responded with a three of his own. Memorial opened up a 67-60 lead, heading into the final frame, in part due to eight third quarter points from forward Josh Francis (Calgary, AB).

Saint Mary's cut into the lead again, with a jumper from Diggs followed by a lay-in from guard Marc-Denault Gabriel (Montreal, QC) cutting the lead to 71-70.

But Memorial's star guard Flynn Boardman-Raffet (London, UK) came alive in the fourth quarter, scoring seven of his 16 points, including a three-pointer that extended the Sea-Hawks lead to 78-71 with just over two minutes remaining. Some poor free-throw shooting and costly turnovers down the stretch ended the Huskies comeback attempts, as they fell 80-74.

Flynn Boardman-Raffet was named Player of the Game for the Sea-Hawks with a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double, adding three steals. Norm Burry added 16 points, Cameron Stanford 14 and Josh Reimer (St. John's, NL) added 12 for the Sea-Hawks.

The Huskies were led by Jayrell Diggs who scored a game-high 22 points – all after the first quarter – and added four assists and two steals. AUS leading rebounder Eliel Nsoseme added his third straight double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, while guard Jasha'jaun Downey chipped in 10 points in defeat.

The Sea-Hawks win improves their record to 2-1 on the season, while the Huskies fall to 1-2. The Huskies and Sea-Hawks will meet again on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Homburg Centre. GET TICKETS

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