Capers defeat the UNB Reds
SYDNEY – The Cape Breton University Capers (4-3) defeated the visiting UNB Reds (3-4) 87-66 in Atlantic University Sport (AUS) men's basketball action on Saturday afternoon at Sullivan Fieldhouse.
The home side outscored the Reds 48-25 in the second half to secure the one-sided victory.
Led by seven consecutive points from Norm Burry (Grafton, ON), the Reds got off to a fast start in the first quarter, but the hometown Capers answered; after an offensive rebound and basket from Shaquai Manswell (Ajax, ON), CBU were up 14-9.
The Capers led 22-21 at halftime.
Early in the second quarter, the Reds regained the lead – at 33-29 – on a three-pointer from Mark Tobin (Mount Pearl, NL).
For most of that stanza, the sides exchanged hoops in a fast-paced match-up, with no team leading by more than six points.
In the closing seconds of the opening half, Matthias Muscroft (Sussex, NB) drained a three-pointer to give the visitors a four-point edge, but Stefan Anisko (Caledonia, ON) answered with an offensive rebound and put back at the buzzer.
The Reds led 41-39 at halftime.
In the third quarter, sparked by tight defense from Aaron Cunningham (Orangeville, ON) and his teammates, the Capers made a 14-0 spurt that gave them a double-digit advantage at 53-41.
On a basket from Marcus Barnes (Kitchener, ON), the Reds pulled within 10 points, but the Capers answered with another run; one highlighted by a three-pointer from Manswell to make it 62-47.
The Capers led 62-49 heading to the fourth quarter, with the Reds scoring only eight points in the pivotal third stanza.
CBU smothered any thoughts of a comeback early in the final 10 minutes, when Chartwells player of the game Shakael Pryce (Ajax, ON) scored five consecutive points to make it 69-49.
The rest of the way the score got no closer for the Reds, with the CBU lead ballooning to as much as 24 points.
Pryce and Cato led the Capers with a game-high 19 points apiece, while each collecting seven rebounds. Pryce also added three assists.
Justus Peuser (Geisenheim, Germany) also hit double figures, with 12, while chipping in six assists and four rebounds.
Burry led the Reds, with 17, while Barnes fashioned a double-double – 13 points and 10 rebounds.
The Capers will return to action this weekend when they travel to St. John's for games versus the Memorial SeaHawks on Friday, Nov. 24 and Saturday, Nov. 25.
Tip-off for both match-ups is 7:30 AST and 8 p.m. NST.
The Reds will visit the Dalhousie Tigers in Halifax on Saturday, Nov. 25.
Game time is 8 p.m. AST.
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RECAP: Corey LeBlanc