Carson scores 26 in 88-75 win over UNB

(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB Varsity Reds could not take advantage of home court Friday, dropping an 88-75 decision to the visiting Dalhousie Tigers. 

The three-time, defending Atlantic University Sport champion Tigers swept the season series from UNB, securing first place in the conference standings and a first-round bye in next weekend's Subway AUS men's basketball championship tournament, in Halifax. 

Alex Carson(Lower Sackville, NS) led all scorers with 26 points for the Tigers. Carson was 7-for-12 from three-point range. 

Jordan Aquino-Serjue(Montreal, QC) added 25 for Dal and was named the Subway Player of the Game. 

"We know that playoffs are around the corner, so we've been working hard all week, putting in some extra hours, when you do that, it makes your job a little easier," said Aquino-Serjue. "They're a really good team and we could see them in the playoffs, so that was good for us." 

Javon Masters(Kitchener, ON) led the Varsity Reds, scoring 16 points and grabbing four rebounds. 

Jesse Kendall(Guelph, ON) scored 12 and Daniel Pitcher(Sydney, AUS) came off the bench to add 12 more points. 

"You can't come out with an intramural effort against a competitive team," said Varsity Reds head coach Brent Baker. "Our toughness or 'get after it' today was at a non-compete level. We need this for a wake-up call, for sure, but it's disappointing, at this time of the season, that we come out and lay an egg like that."  

Carson's solid night started in the first quarter. 

He hit four of his seven three-point shots in the opening frame, including one, as time expired, that gave Dal a 24-12 lead. 

Aquino-Serjue took over in the second quarter, scoring 11 of his 25. 

The Tigers led 50-31 at the half. 

The Varsity Reds were never able to establish their offence. 

A 7-0 third quarter run was their deepest of the night. 

"We came out with confidence," said Aquino-Serjue. "We took a loss to Acadia last week, so we felt we had something to prove, that we're still one of the top teams in this league." 

The Varsity Reds play their final home and regular season game on Saturday, when they host the St FX X-Men. Game time is 8:00pm. 

"We're not, right now, in a very good place, to say that we're going to down and challenge in Halifax, if we don't get our act together in the next seven days," said Baker. 

The Tigers travel to UPEI for a Saturday date with the Panthers. That game is also scheduled to tip-off at 8:00pm.