Capers extend streak to four with 90-82 win over Sea-Hawks

Capers extend streak to four with 90-82 win over Sea-Hawks

By Corey LeBlanc 

Sydney, NS – The Cape Breton University (CBU) Capers (6-6) notched their fourth consecutive regular-season win with a 90-82 victory over the Memorial Sea-Hawks (6-5) in Atlantic University Sport (AUS) men's basketball action on Saturday night at Sullivan Fieldhouse. 

On the strength of a 21-8 scoring advantage in the first quarter, the home side never relinquished the lead, while holding off a late-game comeback effort by the visitors.

"We really came out with a lot of energy," CBU head coach Matt Skinn said, describing his team as "super pumped" coming out of the gate. 

League-leading scorer Osman Omar (Mississauga, ON) helped set the tone for CBU with the first five points of the game, including a three-pointer.

After the Sea-Hawks knotted the contest 5-5, the Capers went on a 10-point run, one keyed by eight consecutive points from Cooper Ward (Ipswich, AUS), who also provided a monster rebounding effort.

Less than five minutes into the second quarter, after a lay-up by Jason Callaghan (Sydney, NS), the CBU lead ballooned to 35-15.

In the final 30 seconds of the first half, the Sea-Hawks pulled within 12 points on a Caleb d'Entremont (St. John's, NL) jump shot.

But Ibrahim Gosselin-Diawara (Montreal, QC) answered with a three-pointer to give the Capers a 44-29 lead heading to the locker room.

In the third quarter, after a three-pointer from C.J. Bennett (Brampton, ON) in the opening minute, the CBU margin was back to 20 at 49-29.

Midway through the stanza, on a basket from Boris Ristanovic (Kragujevac, Serbia), the Sea-Hawks trimmed the deficit to 53-40.

And, after d'Entremont made a hoop from downtown, Memorial sliced the CBU lead to 10 – 55-45 – with just more than three minutes remaining in the third quarter.

The Capers had a 17-point lead in the final seconds – 66-49 – after a pair of Callaghan free throws, but Nathan Barker (Corner Brook, NL) drainer a three-pointer with 11 seconds remaining for the Sea-Hawks.

Heading to the fourth quarter, CBU led 66-52.

"I was really impressed with our second unit in the third quarter," Skinn said of his bench's performance over a four-to-five-minute stretch.

Noting their strong work offensively, he added that the performance also provided his starters with a long rest.

Again, on another quick start to a quarter – sparked by an Omar lay-up and Bennett three-pointer – the Capers were up 71-52 one minute into the fourth.

While the CBU edge hovered in double-digits from most of the final frame, Memorial made a late 8-0 run, which included five points from Cole Long (St. John's, NL) – including a shot from downtown – and a three-pointer from d'Entremont, to make it 83-76 for the Capers with just more than two minutes remaining.

The Sea-Hawks got no closer, with the Capers hitting clutch baskets and free throws to seal the deal.

Omar led the Capers with 23 points, while adding six rebounds and four assists, while Bennett added 17 points, four rebounds and three assists. 

Freshman Diangelo Woodside (New Providence, Bahamas) – the Subway player of the game – and Ward finished with 13 and 10 points, respectively, while adding eight rebounds apiece.

Skinn praised Tyson Cato (Hamilton, ON) and Chris Ruta (Calgary, AB) for containing Long – one of the conference's top offensive players.

"They made him work hard for everything," he said.

Skinn also credited Woodside for his stellar defense down the stretch. 

Ristanovic finished with a game-high 26 points for the SeaHawks, while collecting six rebounds. Long contributed 19 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, while D'Entremont and Jason Thompson (St. John's, NL) scored 13 and 11 points, respectively.

CBU Athletics and the Capers recognized African Heritage Month during the game. 

The teams will be back on the court tomorrow (Feb. 27) at 3 p.m. ADT (3:30 p.m. NT) in the final home game of the AUS regular season for the Capers. 

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