Panthers outlast Huskies 74-64 to split weekend series

HALIFAX, N.S. – UPEI guard Kyree Thompson scored 20 points, lifting the Panthers to a 74-64 win over the Saint Mary's Huskies in Atlantic University Sport men's basketball action on Saturday afternoon at the Homburg Centre.

The Panthers got off to a hot start, with back-to-back three-pointers from guard Matthew Magnan (Victoria, BC) and forward Sam Dyck (Almonte, ON) helping them open up a quick 8-0 lead. A Kyree Thompson (North Preston, NS) lay-in extended that lead to 12-2, before Huskies guard Jayrell Diggs (East Preston, NS) responded with a three.

UPEI continued to lead throughout the opening quarter, but a late three-pointer from Huskies guard Jasha'jaun Downey (North Preston, NS) cut the visitors lead to 20-14 after the first quarter of action.

The Panthers surge continued into the second quarter, with back-to-back buckets from Thompson and forward Abilash Surendran (Toronto, ON), followed by a three from guard Hugo Bermejo (Madrid, Spain) opening up a 27-14 advantage. But Huskies first year guard Ben Dale (Middle Sackville, NS) did everything he could to help bring the Huskies back, scoring six points in the quarter on a variety of crafty drives.

Dale's third lay-in of the quarter cut the Panthers lead to 33-29, followed by a parade of free-throws for Thompson and Dyck, and a lay-up from Huskies guard Dawson John (Brantford, ON) giving UPEI a 38-31 lead heading into halftime.

UPEI was paced by 10 first half points from Kyree Thompson, while Nicholas Gonzalez Longarela (Madrid, Spain) added eight off the Panthers bench. For the Huskies, Jayrell Diggs led the way with 10 first half points, while Ben Dale chipped in six, all in the second quarter.

The third quarter saw the Panthers lead grow again, with a lay-in from Magnan and two free-throws from Thompson put the visitors ahead 42-31. But Saint Mary's came storming back with a 13-0 run, including two lay-ups from Ben Dale, and a lay-up from forward Jonah Crowther (Dartmouth, NS) gave the Huskies their first lead of the night, 44-42.

That started a back-and-forth battle, as the teams exchanged leads several more times throughout the quarter, and a tough lay-in from Jayrell Diggs cut the Panthers lead to 52-51 after three quarters of play.

Saint Mary's opened the fourth by taking a 54-52 lead off a trio of Diggs free-throw makes. But that would be their last lead of the game, as the Panthers responded on a 10-0 run, including four points from Surendran. The Huskies made a late come-back effort, with a lay-in from Diggs and a Ben Dale free-throw cutting the deficit to 68-64 with under a minute remaining. But the Panthers closed strong with a Thompson lay-up, followed by four straight free-throws from guard Tarrence Booker (New Westminster, BC) as the visitors held on for a 74-64 win.

Kyree Thompson was named Player of the Game for the Panthers, dropping 20 points and adding six rebounds and four assists. Nicolas Gonzalez Longarela added 11 points off the bench, and Abilash Surendran controlled the paint with a 10-point, 10-rebound, two block double-double.

The Huskies were led by guard Jayrell Diggs' 21 points – including his 199th career three-pointer, moving him up to 6th all-time in AUS career three-pointer makes – while guard Ben Dale chipped in 11 points and eight rebounds.

The Panthers win snaps a three-game losing streak, and improves their record to 6-10 on the season. UPEI will be back on home court next weekend, hosting the Acadia Axemen (10-4) at 8 p.m. in Wolfville, N.S.

The Huskies loss drops their record to 3-11 on the campaign. Saint Mary's will hit the road next weekend, visiting the Cape Breton Capers (8-7) on Friday, Jan. 30 at 8 p.m., and Saturday, Jan. 31 at 4 p.m. in Sydney, N.S.

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