Game Recap by Ilyas Kurbanov
(Halifax, NS) – The Dalhousie Tigers played host to the visiting cross-town rival Saint Mary's Huskies in Shoot for the Cure action on Saturday night. After a great team defensive play by the Tigers, they won the game with the score 93-53.
The game started at a slow pace. Both teams scored a total of nine points in the first four minutes of play.
Keevan Veinot (Port Williams, NS) started the game off with a layup and set up Sascha Kappos (Miami, FL) and Xavier Ochu (Milton, ON) for a pair of layups to take an early 6-0 lead, but Qyemah Gibson (Nassau, Bahamas), was able to make it 6-3 after he hit a bank three.
Alex Carson (Lower Sackville, NS) checked into the game and had an immediate impact on the floor. He was 4-8 from the field with nine points as he led his team in the first quarter.
After a slow offensive quarter from the Huskies, they were 2-12 from the field to start the game. The Tigers led 21-6 at the end of the first quarter.
The start of the second quarter set up the pace for the next ten minutes. Both teams added seven points a piece on the board. The Tigers were up 28-13 after a quick three from Ochu and a jumper from inside the key from Kappos.
The Huskies' Dontae Mitchell (Vaughan, ON) had three back-to-back layups and was 3-3 to start the second quarter to help elevate the Huskies offence.
A backdoor drive by Jordan Brathwaite (Milton, ON) freed up Kappos for a slam dunk. Kappos shifted the momentum with a second immediate dunk down the middle of the floor.
With four seconds left on the shot clock, Veinot took it upon himself and hit a three to give the Tigers 45-26 lead heading into the break.
Kappos picked up where he left off in the first half. With the second possession of the half, Kappos had another dunk down the middle to set the pace for an attacking quarter by the Tigers.
The hot streak continued for Veinot as well. A make from the mid-range and put him at 6-8 from the field with a total of 15 points for the Tigers.
The Huskies struggled, but Sebastian Gray (Nassau, Bahamas) put up two three pointers for the team to keep it within 20. The Tigers continued to press and force the Huskies to turn the ball over.
The Huskies had 11 turnovers in the game towards the end of the third and the Tigers took advantage. They were able to score 19 points off turnovers.
The Tigers led 68-41 at the end of the third.
Defensive play allowed the Tigers to ride the momentum as they extended the lead bit by bit. The Huskies finished with 22 turnovers and allowed the Tigers to capitalize and score 34 points off turnovers.
Subway player of the game went to the Tigers' Sascha Kappos. He finished with 14 points and five rebounds.
The Tigers will face the Cape Breton Capers on January 31 at Cape Breton University. The Huskies will host Memorial Sea-Hawks on February 1 at the Homburg Centre.