Gabriel’s double-double leads Huskies to 79-67 win over Panthers

HALIFAX, NS – Saint Mary' s guard Marc-Denault Gabriel scored a 23-point, 13-rebound double-double, leading the Huskies to a 79-67 win over the UPEI Panthers in Atlantic University Sport men's basketball action on Friday night at the Homburg Centre.

The first quarter saw the two teams exchanging buckets, with back-to-back lay-ins from Huskies guards Jasha'jaun Downey (North Preston, NS) and Marc-Denault Gabriel (Montreal, QC) opening up a 7-3 lead. The Panthers responded with a jump shot from guard Kamara Scott (Missisauga, ON), but Huskies guard Jayrell Diggs hit a tough three-pointer to extend the lead to 10-5.

But the Panthers responded on a 17-6 run over the next three minutes, highlighted by a pair of lay-ins by guard Kyree Thompson (North Preston, NS) and a three-pointer from wing Owen Smith (Harvey York, NB), and UPEI took a 22-18 lead into the second quarter.

The second quarter saw the Panthers extend their lead to 27-22 with some solid play from forwards Sam Dyck (Almonte, ON) and Nicolas Gonzalez-Longarela (Madrid, Spain). Jayrell Diggs helped the Huskies cut into the lead with six straight points, before forward Jonah Crowther (Dartmouth, NS) hit a three to put the Huskies ahead 38-37. Kamari Scott hit a buzzer-beater to end the quarter, tying the game at 40-40 after the first half.

Early in the third quarter, Marc-Denault Gabriel drained a three-pointer to give the Huskies a 45-42 advantage. The rest of the quarter was a defensive battle, with many fouls called, and a late lay-in from Huskies forward Jackson Enyinna (Port Harcourt, Nigeria) gave the home team a 52-51 lead heading into the fourth.

The Panthers retook the lead on the opening possession of the fourth quarter, as guard Sina Ayerman (Markham, ON) hit his second three of the night, but Saint Mary's responded with a three-pointer from Jayrell Diggs, which tied him for most three-pointers in Huskies men's basketball history (158 three-pointers made) with former Huskies guard Mark McLaughlin (2005-10).

Diggs went on a personal 8-0 scoring run, adding a lay-in and three free-throws to extend the home team's lead to 60-54. The Panthers cut into the lead with back-to-back baskets from Dyck and Scott, but Marc-Denault Gabriel hit a lay-in and then a three, restoring the Huskies lead to 65-61.

Jayrell Diggs continued his big fourth quarter, hitting another lay-in and three free-throws on his way to 13 points in the final frame, but it was a three-pointer from Jasha'jaun Downey that was the dagger, extending the Huskies lead to 75-67 with under a minute remaining. Gabriel added a three in the dying seconds, as the Huskies secured the 79-67 victory.

Huskies guard Marc-Denault Gabriel led the way with a 23-point, 13-rebound double-double, adding four assists and a block. Jayrell Diggs added 22 points, with 13 coming in the fourth quarter, and Jasha'jaun Downey chipped in 14 points.

The Panthers were led by guard Kyree Thompson, who came off the bench to score 17 points, adding three blocks, two rebounds, two assists and two steals. Daniel Gonzalez Longarela added 10 points and eight rebounds for UPEI.

The Huskies win improves their record to 4-6 on the season, while the Panthers drop to 4-6. The two teams will meet again on Saturday at 6 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