(HALIFAX, N.S.) - After a slow first half, the Cape Breton Capers (4th seed) came back in overtime for a 95-89 win over the UNB REDS (5th seed) in a dramatic opening to the 2023 Subway AUS Men's Basketball Championship.
First team all-star Omar Osman (Mississauga, Ont.) led the comeback for the Capers with 21 points. Named the Subway player of the game, Osman had two layups in overtime and was successful from the foul line with an and one on both baskets.
UNB's Marcus Barnes (Kitchener, Ont.) showed why he was the rookie of the year, making three consecutive shots from beyond the arch in the opening quarter, prompting a smile after the third three-pointer. Barnes finished the opening quarter with 15 points, going three-for-five on three-point attempts. The REDS held a 32-23 lead after the first quarter, with 21 of those points in the form of three-pointers.
The Capers came out strong in the second quarter, with all-rookie team member Justus Peuser (Geisenheim, Germany) making two successful layups to narrow the lead to two possessions. Second-year forward Chris Ruta (Calgary, Alta.) fired up both his bench and the traveling Capers fans behind the net with a slam dunk to make it a two-point game. Ruta did it all again moments later with another dunk.
Just like in the first quarter, the UNB found success with three-pointers en route to establishing a 50-38 lead after the first half. Rookie Vegas Evans (Brampton, Ont.) was perfect from beyond the arch, going two-for-two as his team went 12-for-22 (54.5%) on three-point attempts in the half. Evans also had seven first-half rebounds.
The Capers slowly clawed back into the game in the second half, helped by a 9-point run highlighted by a three-point jump shot by fourth-year guard Jason Callaghan (Sydney, N.S.). Justus Pueser came off the bench and made a jump shot in the final seconds of the third quarter to tie the game.
Both teams put on a show in the final quarter, with standout plays on both sides of the ball. Barnes continued to dominate with three-pointers, with the rookie making three consecutive shots for the REDS. He led his team in scoring with 31 points and was 7-for-13 in three-point attempts.
CBU fifth-year forward Paul Watson (Mississauga, Ont.) had a huge block and followed it up with a three-pointer shortly after. With 20 seconds left, Watson made two baskets from the foul line before Chris Ruta tied the game 81-81 with four seconds left.
In overtime both teams made the most of their foul shots, including UNB's Eden Otshudi (Hamilton, Ont.) who had a steal, layup and two successful free throws in overtime. Ruta gave CBU its crucial lead with a three-point shot.
With the win, the Capers will face the top-seeded STFX X-Men at 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 25. Watch every game of the 2023 Subway AUS Basketball Championships on AUStv.ca.
Source: Jonathan Briggins for Atlantic University Sport