Panthers fall short in 83-72 loss to Reds

(FREDERICTON, NB) — The UNB Reds held off a feisty UPEI Panthers team, scoring an 83-72 win on Saturday night, at UNB's Richard J. Currie Center. 

The Reds used a balanced and relentless scoring attack, getting double digit efforts from four players, including 21 points off the bench from Chris Spurrell (Quispamsis, NB). 

Matur Maluach (Sydney, Australia) added 15, including nine in an important fourth quarter, earning Subway Player of the Game honours. 

Dakelle Brooks (East Preston, NS) led all scorers, dropping 22 for the Panthers, while Jamesley Jerome (Montreal, QC), with the double-double, scored 19 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. 

The teams played a close first quarter, with the Reds leading 19-16 after ten minutes. 

UNB extended their lead to 37-30 at the half. 

Cue the Panthers rally. 

UPEI outscored the Reds 23-21 in the third quarter, tying the home team 43-43 mid-way through the quarter. 

While the Reds led 58-53 after three, the Panthers continued to hang around, closer at times than at others. 

Despite the Panthers efforts, Maluach and Ibrahima Doumbouya (Calgary, AB) would ensure UNB never lost the lead. A Doumbouya lay-up, with about six minutes to play gave UNB a nine point lead, at 68-59. 

The Panthers did what they could to slow down the high tempo Reds offence, but a Derian Valdes three, with about 3:30 to play, put the Reds up by 12, and ended any hope the visitors might've had. 

Doumbouya finished the night with a double-double, scoring 10 points and pulling down 12 rebounds, while Valdes added a dozen points. 

With the win, in a four-point game, the Reds are now 10-and-5, and holding third place in the Atlantic University Sport standings. 

The Panthers fall to 3-11. 

The two teams tangle again next Friday, in Charlottetown. Game time is 8:00pm. 

RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics 

PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics