(HALIFAX, N.S.) - Saturday's second semifinal matchup had the second-seeded University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds topping the sixth-seeded Memorial Sea-Hawks by a score of 96-83.
The Varsity Reds were led by AUS most valuable player, Javon Masters' 20 points, nine assists and three steals, and AUS all-rookie team member Ibrahima Doumbouya's 14-point and 14-rebound double-double.
Prior to the game Masters was honoured for becoming the most prolific scorer in U SPORTS history with a career total of 2,407 points in 96 career games played.
The first quarter started out tightly contested with UNB's Jesse Kendall leading the way with six points (2-3 3FG).
Memorial kept it close with balanced scoring from their starting unit, with each starter scoring in the frame.
UNB started to pull away through the first half of the second quarter, holding a 38-25 lead with 3:35 left in the half.
At the end of the first half the Varsity Reds would hold onto an 11-point lead (46-35), outscoring the Sea-Hawks 25-16 in the second quarter.
Masters led all scorers with 11 points, playing just 11 minutes in the first half due to the strong play of the other Varsity Reds.
Memorial was led in scoring by Daniel Gordon and Davion Parnsalu, who each chipped in with eight a piece in the first half for the Sea-Hawks.
Over the third quarter UNB would push their lead to as much as 15 points but Memorial rallied thanks to the determined effort of fifth-year guard Davion Parnsalu, cutting the lead back to nine (66-57) by the end of the quarter.
The Varsity Reds, however, would use a run of their own in the fourth to take an 83-67 lead with just over four minutes remaining, their largest lead of the game.
Over the final minutes of the game both teams traded baskets but UNB would not allow the Sea-Hawks any closer than within nine points down the stretch.
The Varsity Reds now move on to play the St. Francis Xavier X-Men in Sunday's championship game at 4:30 p.m. at the Scotiabank Centre.