CAPERS rally for win over REDS in AUS men’s basketball action 

SYDNEY – The Cape Breton University (CBU) CAPERS (2-0) remain undefeated after a second straight home win over the UNB REDS (0-2) – a 78-67 come-from-behind triumph – in Atlantic University Sport (AUS) men's basketball action on Saturday afternoon at the Sullivan Fieldhouse.  

The CAPERS outscored the REDS 29-11 in the pivotal fourth quarter, ignited by a 13-point effort – including eight consecutive from veteran point guard Shak Pryce (Pickering, ON) – to secure the victory. 

Led by the interior effort of Connor Lindell (St. Catharines, ON) – on both ends of the floor – the visiting REDS took an early 6-0 edge in the first quarter. After Stefan Anisko (Mississauga, ON) scored for the CAPERS, they took their first lead – at 10-8. Sparked by an 18-6 spurt, after the REDS opened with six consecutive points, the CAPERS led 18-14 after the first quarter. 

In the second quarter, UNB meshed the first eight points – highlighted by a four-point play by Marcus Barnes (Kitchener, ON), who was fouled on a made three-point basket, which gave his team a 22-18 lead. Later in the stanza, after an acrobatic spin to the hoop by Jeven Eddy (Ajax, ON), the REDS were up 30-20. On the strength of back-to-back highlight reel dunks from Liai Tong (St. John's NL), the CAPERS sliced the deficit to 33-26. Barnes canned a three-pointer later in the quarter, which helped his REDS take a 36-28 edge to the locker room at halftime.  

In the third quarter, Aaron Cunningham (Shelburne, ON) – the player of the game recipient – scored eight straight points to give the CAPERS a 41-40 edge. Keyed by a trio of three-pointers from Eden Otshudi (Hamilton, ON), the REDS rallied and took a 54-49 lead into the fourth quarter. 

In the final stanza, Pryce not only filled the basket – from both three-point land and in the paint – but also found his teammates, including Tafarian Black (Scarborough, ON), who nailed back-to-back baskets from downtown. Mark Tobin (Mount Pearl, NL), after a strong finish at the rim and then taking a charge, helped the REDS get within six points – at 72-66 – but they could not get any closer.  

Pryce finished with a game-high 18 points, while chipping in eight assists. As part of a balanced CAPERS' attack, Tong (14), Cunningham (13), Black (12) and Tyson Cato (St. Catharines, ON), with 11, scored in double digits, along with collecting five rebounds apiece. 

Barnes, the UNB player of the game who added six rebounds and three assists, and Otshudi led the REDS with 16 points each. Landell fashioned a double-double – 12 points and 10 rebounds – while Tobin hit double digits with 10 points. Eddy added a game-high 11 rebounds.  

The CAPERS will return to the court on Thursday, Nov. 7, when they travel to Antigonish to face the rival STFX X-Men on Coach 'K' Court at the Saputo Centre.  

The REDS will be back in action on Saturday, Nov. 9, when they host the Dalhousie Tigers in their home opener in Fredericton. 

Tip-off time for both match-ups is 8 p.m. AST. 

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