Nsoseme & Downey lead Huskies to 83-76 win over Capers

HALIFAX, NS – Huskies forward Eliel Nsoseme dominated with a 17-point, 15-rebound, five blocks double-double, while Jasha'jaun Downey poured in a career-high 30 points, leading the Saint Mary's Huskies to a thrilling 83-76 win over the Cape Breton Capers in Atlantic University Sport men's basketball action on Saturday night at the Homburg Centre.

The Huskies started the game red-hot in front of a packed Homburg Centre crowd -  a jump-shot from guard Jayrell Diggs (East Preston, NS), a three-pointer from Jasha'jaun Downey (North Preston, NS, and two lay-ins from Eliel Nsoseme (Kinshasa, DRC) – opened up an early 9-0 lead. Capers forward Tyson Cato responded with a lay-up, but the Huskies kept coming, with another three-pointer from guard Tjark Lademacher (Luneburg, Germany) and lay-in from Nsoseme pushing the lead to 14-2.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

What a start for the Huskies! They open up a 14-2 lead, including six points from Eliel Nsoseme! pic.twitter.com/lrkEhgnZLq

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 2, 2025

Nsoseme continued to dominate throughout the first quarter, scoring 10 of the Huskies first 18 points, including a thunderous dunk, followed by a blocked shot leading to a three-pointer for Marc-Denault Gabriel (Montreal, QC) as the Huskies took a commanding 21-3 lead.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Eliel Nsoseme is dominating on both ends! The dunk and then the block before Marc-Denault Gabriel hits a three! Huskies lead 21-3 early. pic.twitter.com/NQ7PUoOeCU

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 2, 2025

But the Capers closed the quarter strong with a 15-7 run, largely thanks to contributions off the bench from forwards Lial Tong (St. John's, NL) and Tafarian Black (Scarborough, ON), who combined for 12 first quarter points. A pair of Cato free-throws cut the lead to 28-18 after the first quarter.

The Capers momentum continued into the second quarter, with guard Stefan Anisko hitting a pair of threes to cut the Huskies lead to 30-26. The two teams exchanged buckets for the majority of the quarter, with a three-pointer from Capers guard Justus Peuser (Geisenheim, Germany) tying the game at 42-42. But Huskies guard Jasha'jaun Downey responded with a rare four-point play, restoring the Saint Mary's lead.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

4️⃣ for 4️⃣! Jasha'jaun Downey hits the four-point play to give the Huskies a 46-42 lead! pic.twitter.com/ZCG2GmlZDp

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 2, 2025

After Capers guard Shakael Pryce (Pickering, ON) hit a pair of free-throws, Downey beat the half-time buzzer with a deep three-pointer, giving the Huskies a 49-44 lead at the half, powered by Downey's 17 first-half points.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Jasha'jaun Downey beats the first half buzzer with a deep three! Huskies lead 49-44 at the half! pic.twitter.com/eJFfpmwyRn

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 2, 2025

The third quarter saw the Capers continue to stick around, with a three-pointer from Stefan Anisko followed by a lay-in from Tyson Cato giving the visitors their first lead of the night at 53-51. But once again, Downey answered with a clutch three to regain the Huskies lead.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

He's heating up! Another Jasha'jaun Downey three puts the Huskies ahead 54-53 in the third! pic.twitter.com/CGxoM8vfbU

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 2, 2025

That's when Capers star guard Shakael Pryce got going, scoring five straight points, and finishing the third quarter with another three to give the Capers a 70-62 lead heading into the final quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Downey and Nsoseme put the Huskies on their backs and led the team to victory. First it was Downey hitting back-to-back jumpers, followed by a Marc-Denault Gabriel lay-in to cut the lead to 73-68.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Jasha'jaun Downey starts the fourth quarter with back-to-back buckets, cutting the Capers lead to 73-66. pic.twitter.com/dFH5ZBsn4X

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 2, 2025

Then Nsoseme established his interior dominance, denying Capers forward Tafarian Black at the rim, and converting a three-point play at the other end. Several possessions later, Nsoseme converted another lay-in to tie the game at 73-73.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Eliel Nsoseme going beast mode! A huge block on one end and the and-one on the other to cut the Capers lead to 73-71! pic.twitter.com/EplBlDSyNe

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 2, 2025

After Tafarian Black split a pair of free-throws, Nsoseme found a cutting Jayrell Diggs for the lay-in, before a Nsoseme and-one put-back gave the Huskies the lead for good. Jasha'jaun Downey scored the last six points of the night to seal the Huskies 83-76 victory.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Eliel Nsoseme and Jasha'jaun Downey take over the game in the fourth quarter! Another and-one for Nsoseme, followed by a big block and Downey lay-up as the Huskies come back to defeat the Capers 83-76! pic.twitter.com/jrxp6XNG5R

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 2, 2025

Huskies forward Eliel Nsoseme was named Player of the Game with 17 points – including seven in the fourth quarter – 15 rebounds and five blocked shots. Jasha'jaun Downey poured in 30 points, adding four rebounds and three assists, while Jayrell Diggs added 18 points and four assists, and Marc-Denault Gabriel stuffed the stat-sheet with 10 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block.

The Capers were led by Tyson Cato, who posted a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double. Shakael Pryce added 13 points, five rebounds and four assists, while Tafarian Black added 13 points off the bench.

The Huskies win improves their record to 6-9 on the season, while the Capers drop to 9-7. The two teams will meet again next Friday, Feb. 7 at 8 p.m. in Sydney, N.S.

Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics
Photos by Eduardo Ibarra / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics