Huskies earn OT win and weekend sweep of Memorial

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia – The SMU men's basketball team upended the UNB Reds on Sunday afternoon in overtime, 84-80, from the Homburg Centre.

Five players ended the game in double-figures for the Huskies, led by junior Johneil Johnson (Lake Echo, NS) who dropped 21 points, five rebounds and a pair of steals. 

Sophomore Qyemah Gibson (Nassau, Bahamas) notched a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds, junior Sebastian Gray (Nassau, Bahamas) and fifth-year Nevell Provo (North Preston, NS) contributed 12 points apiece.

Fifth-year Travis Adams (Halifax, NS) added 10 points and six rebounds of his own to round out the quintet scoring for the Huskies, who improve to 7-8 in Atlantic University Sport play and sit in fifth place in conference standings with their four-point win.

Memorial's Cole Long (St. John's, NL) 24 points and 16 rebounds topped all scorers and players on the night.

Boris Ristanovic (Kragujevac, Serbia) missed out on a double-double for the Sea-Hawks with 16 points and nine rebounds while Daniel Foo (Corner Brook, NL) chipped in 16 as well.

Nicholas Tuff (St. John's, NL) had nine points and 11 rebounds for Memorial, who drop to 6-10 and sixth place with 14 points in conference action.

Saint Mary's outscored Memorial 19-15 after 10 minutes and 26-13 in the second quarter and led by 17 at half, 45-28.

Johnson made two free-throws at the 5:03 mark in the third quarter, as SMU led 52-38. Memorial closed out the third quarter on a 14-0 run and drew even, 52-52 after 30 minutes.

Both teams were even in the fourth quarter (18-18) and overtime was needed, tied 70-70.

Early on in over time, both teams traded buckets and Cole tied the game 76-76 with 1:25 left. The game's biggest basket came off the hands of Provo, whose fourth 3-pointer of the night, put SMU ahead 79-76 1:09 left.

Sophomore Dontae Mitchell (Vaughan, ON) had a quiet night with only four points but came up with a steal in the last minute of play as SMU held on for the 84-80 victory.

Up Next: SMU returns to action at home Feb 5 versus Acadia at 8 p.m. while Memorial travels to UNB Feb 15-16.  All games will be streamed on AUStv.ca
 
Dominic Nolasco, SMU

Photo Mona Ghiz