Capers defeat Huskies 79-77 in season-opening thriller

HALIFAX, NS - Cape Breton guard Sacade Kasamba scored the game-winning putback lay-up with 10 seconds remaining, as the Capers defeated the Huskies 79-77 in Atlantic University Sport men's basketball action on Saturday night at the Homburg Centre in Halifax.

The Huskies opened the action with back-to-back three pointers from forward Jonah Crowther (Dartmouth, NS) and guard Devawn White (Montreal, QC). Crowther was the go-to guy to open the game, scoring eight points in the first quarter.

A highlight reel and-one from Devawn White gave the Huskies their largest lead of the night 24-12, but the Capers received a boost off the bench from guard Sacade Kasamba (St. Catherines, ON) who scored five points in the quarter, as the Huskies took a 24-16 lead after the first.

The second quarter saw the Capers open up on a 15-6 run, with a dunk from Aaron Cunningham, followed by a three-pointer and dunk from Josiah McKnight, which put Cape Breton ahead 31-30.

Huskies all-star guards Jasha'jaun Downey (North Preston, NS) and Jayrell Diggs (East Preston, NS), did their best to keep the Huskies in it, combing for 11 second quarter points, but lay-ups from Tafarian Black and Aaron Cunningham pushed the Capers lead to 46-39 at the end of the first half.

The third quarter saw the Capers add to their lead, as they openedon a 9-0 run, with a Tafarian Black three pushing the lead to 55-39. Jonah Crowther answered with a three, but the Capers kept scoring, with a Kasamba lay-in extending their lead to 60-47 midway through the third quarter.

Saint Mary's responded with a 7-0 run of their own, thanks to back-to-back buckets from Devawn White, and a Jasha'jaun Downey cut the lead to 62-59, but the Capers once again finished the quarter strong on a 5-0 run to take a 67-59 lead through three quarters of play.

Downey and White continued to keep the Huskies within striking distance, each scoring on drives to cut the lead to 69-65. Kasamba and Black scored for the Capers, but a three-pointer from Huskies first year guard Ben Dale (Halifax, NS) brought the Huskies within a point, 73-72, with under four minutes to go.

After Aaron Cunningham made a lay-up, Jayrell Diggs responded with a make of his own, and a Capers miss led to an open three for Huskies guard Jahsemar Olembe (Kitchener, ON) who gave the Huskies their first lead of the second half, 77-75 with just under two minutes remaining.

Unfortunately for the Huskies, it would also be their last lead of the night, as after several defensive stops, Tafarian Black hit two free-throws to tie the game at 77-77 with just over a minute to play. Jayrell Diggs missed a three, and after two Capers offensive rebounds, Kasamba scored a put-back lay-up to give the Capers a 79-77 lead with 10.1 on the clock. The Capers intentionally fouled to kill clock and the Huskies were unable to get a shot off, as Cape Breton held on to the 79-77 season-opening win.

Sacade Kasamba was named Player of the Game for the Capers, as he came off the bench to score 16 points on 7/10 shooting including the game-winner, and added seven rebounds and five assists. Aaron Cunningham added a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double, and Tafarian Black added 13 points and five rebounds.

The Huskies were paced by guard Jayrell Diggs with 19 points and five rebounds, and forward Jonah Crowther, who tied his career-high with 19 points. Devawn White added 14 points and six rebounds for Saint Mary's.

The Capers record is 1-0, while the Huskies drop to 0-1. The two teams will meet again on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 2 p.m. at the Homburg Centre. GET TICKETS

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