REDS Down Huskies In OT
(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS staged a furious fourth quarter comeback and then beat the Saint Mary's Huskies 88-82 in overtime in Atlantic University Sport men's basketball action, Saturday afternoon at UNB's Richard J. Currie Center.
Eden Otshudi led the REDS, scoring 21 points and handing out seven assists. He was named Tim Horton's Player of the Game.
Jasha'jaun Downey scored a game-high 30 points for the Huskies.
Things started well for the REDS, who led 22-15 after one quarter.
The Huskies surged ahead early in the second and took a 42-33 lead to the half.
The visitors extended their lead in the third quarter, pushing ahead 63-51.
Things shifted in the fourth quarter when UNB clamped down on defence and erupted on offence, outscoring the Huskies 24-12.
Otshudi and Marcus Barnes hit back-to-back three pointers to pull the REDS to within four, at 70-66.
Following a turnover, Barnes added two more to make the score 70-68.
Another Otshudi three with 2:11 to play put UNB in front 71-70.
With the REDS up 75-72, Downey struck from three-point range with less than 15 seconds on the clock to tie the game and force overtime.
After UNB went up 78-77, the Huskies committed a turnovers on back-to-back possessions, allowing the REDS to gain momentum.
A Matthias Muscroft three gave UNB an 85-79 lead with about a minute remaining and the REDS held on for the 88-82 victory.
Connor Landell recorded a double-double for the REDS with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Muscroft double-doubled as well, finishing with 12 points and 11 rebounds. He also had four assists.
Barnes and Mark Tobin each contributed 15 points to the REDS effort.
Dawson John scored 20 points and seven assists for the Huskies.
The REDS held the Saint Mary's bench to just 10 points total.
The win, the third straight for UNB, moves the REDS into a three-way tie atop the AUS standings. The REDS, Acadia, and Cape Breton are all 5-and-1.
The Huskies are 1-and-5.
UNB travels to Acadia on Friday for an 8:00pm tip-off.
The Huskies will be home to Dalhousie on the same night.
RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB REDS
PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB REDS