Ruta, Omar star in key victory over Panthers

SYDNEY – Led by a sensational effort on both ends of the floor by sophomore forward Chris Ruta (Calgary, AB), who drained what turned out to be the game-winning three-pointer in the final minute of regulation, the Cape Breton University (CBU) Capers (8-9) scored a hard-fought 85-82 victory over the UPEI Panthers (12-5) in Atlantic University Sport (AUS) men's basketball action on Friday night at Sullivan Fieldhouse.

Trailing 82-80, Ruta took a feed beyond the arc and soared over his UPEI defender and sank the jumper, but his night wasn't finished.

In the final seconds, Elijah Miller (Rexdale, ON) drove the lane for an acrobatic lay-up, but Ruta soared defensively and the contested shot missed the mark.

Osman 'Ozzy' Omar (Mississauga, ON) – the Subway player of the game – sealed the deal with a pair of free throws to create the three-point margin of victory for the home side.

In a fast-paced and entertaining opening half, the Panthers scored the first seven points of the first quarter, including a nifty tip-in by Cameron Brown (Scarborough, ON). 

The Capers answered with a 17-4 burst – one keyed by the play of first-year guard Justus Peuser (Geisenheim, Germany) and the fifth-year senior Omar, especially in the open floor – to take a 17-11 advantage. 

Isaiah Ankra (North York, ON) for the Panthers hit a three-pointer to make it 17-14 for the home side.

After a see-saw first quarter, one ripe with plenty of athleticism, CBU held a 24-20 lead.

In that period, Omar finished with 10 points, while Peuser added eight.

Early in the second quarter, off a feed from fifth-year forward Paul Watson (Mississauga, ON), Omar – the defending AUS most valuable player – canned a shot from beyond the arc to make it 29-23.

After freshman Jahnian Simmonds (North Preston, NS) scored a spinning lay-up in the paint, the Capers extended their edge to five points, but Miller of the Panthers responded with a three-pointer to make it 31-29. 

With just more than four minutes remaining until halftime, Watson nailed a deep three-pointer to provide CBU with its largest lead to the contest – at 35-29.

But, like an entertaining boxing match, with every blow from one side the other had a response; after a Sam Chisholm (Bridgetown, NS) three-pointer, UPEI pulled within two points at 38-36.

On the next play, Ruta answered with a basket from downtown to make it 41-36.

The Cape Breton-duo of Jason Callaghan (Sydney, NS) and Mitchell Mersereau (Sydney, NS) teamed up for the final points of the second quarter with Mersereau hitting a three-pointer.

CBU led 46-41 at halftime.

In the third quarter, on the strength of a 16-9 run, the Capers took a double-digit edge by the midway point – at 62-50 – with Peuser at the forefront with his playmaking and scoring.

Sparked by a three-pointer from Scott, the Panthers finished the back half of the frame on a 9-2 burst to make it 64-59 for CBU heading to the final quarter.

Both team scored 18 points in the third stanza.

In the opening couple of minutes of the fourth quarter, Omar regained CBU's double-digit lead with an offensive rebound and lay-in to make it 70-60.

After the Panthers carved into the deficit on a three-pointer from Miller and fast-break lay-up from Brown, the Capers answered; off a UPEI turnover, Omar broke away and banked a pass off the glass that Ruta finished with an emphatic dunk.

By midway through the final 10 minutes, the Panthers trimmed the Caper lead to 76-69 on a jumper from Dakelle Brooks (East Preston, NS). 

Down the stretch, with the Capers protecting a slim edge, Ruta – one of the top shot blockers in the conference – swatted away a couple of UPEI lay-up attempts in the paint.

Nevertheless, the Panthers persevered and took an 82-80 edge, when Miller connected with Scott for a hoop under the basket, which set the stage for Ruta's heroics.

Miller and Scott led the Panthers with 20 points apiece, with Scott fashioning a double-double with 10 rebounds. Miller also chipped in six rebounds, three assists and two steals. 

Ankra, off the bench, notched 16 points along with eight rebounds, three assists and one steal, while Abilash Surendran (Scarborough, ON) contributed 10 rebounds. 

Omar led the Capers with a game-high 28 points, while adding five rebounds and four assists. 

Ruta added 18 points, including three three-pointers, four rebounds, two blocks, one assist and one steal, while Peuser chipped in 14 points, three rebounds and two assists.

Watson contributed nine points, 10 rebounds and two assists.

The Capers and Panthers will be back in action tomorrow (Feb. 11) – at 4 p.m. – at Sullivan Fieldhouse on the CBU campus. 

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