(FREDERICTON, N.B.) - The UNB Varsity Reds men's basketball team had a strong second half on their way to a big four-point win over the Dalhousie Tigers in front of a crowd of 783 spectators at the Richard J. Currie Center.
Only four points separated the AUS top-ranked Tigers from the third-ranked Varsity Reds going into tonight's match-up. Dalhousie and UNB are now in a three-way tie for first with UPEI, who won their game against Memorial tonight as well.
Both Dalhousie and UNB came out strong in the first quarter, which ended tied at 20 points apiece. The second quarter was close as well, but UNB managed to go into halftime up 45-35.
But as the second half got underway, the Varsity Reds started to dominate play on the court. UNB did a great job of maintaining possession with good defensive play and a number of turnovers. They ended the third quarter up 75-44.
UNB stayed strong in the fourth quarter, holding Dalhousie to only thirteen points in those 10 minutes, and walking away with a 98-57 win.
Leading scoring for the Varsity Reds were Jordan Irvine and Javon Masters with 19 points each. Matt Daley had an impressive 13 rebounds and was awarded Subway player of the game honours.
Leading scoring for the Tigers were Kashrell Lawrence and Jarred Reid, each with 11 points.
Varsity Reds head coach Brent Baker says it's the some of the best play he's seen from this team yet.
"It was probably our best start to a second half this season," Baker said. "But it all started out at the defensive end and we really D-ed up and then we got out and ran. And when we run, we're pretty tough to stop."
"They're a real tempo team. They really wanted to walk it up and keep it. We tried to speed it up by playing full-court defence and making the game a little more fast-paced so it plays into what we want to do."
The Varsity Reds play next on Saturday, Jan. 23, when they host Cape Breton at 8 p.m.
The Tigers play next on Sunday, Jan. 24, when they host Memorial at the same time.
Source: UNB Sports Communications