CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – The Saint Mary’s Huskies pulled away late to defeat the UPEI Panthers 84-67 Saturday in Atlantic University Sport men’s basketball action in Charlottetown.
The game was tied 63-63 with 5:39 left before the Huskies went on a 21-4 run to close out the game and improve to 6-4. The Panthers are 0-10.
“The better team won tonight,” UPEI head coach Darrell Glenn said Saturday. “They made shots down the stretch and out-executed us. Their best players made plays.”
But the bench boss was pleased with how his team competed and said it was probably its most complete game of the season together.
“Today it felt like we didn't beat ourselves, they beat us.”
The Huskies held quarter leads of 18-15, 36-32 and 56-52.
Kemar Alleyne led the Huskies with 31 points while Nikita Kasongo chipped in 21 points and a team-high nine rebounds and four steals.
Moshe Wadley led the Panthers with 13 points while Stefan Vujisic had 12 and Dakelle Brooks 10. Point guard Amin Suleman had 12 rebounds, nine points and an assist.
“Amin has been playing some yeoman minutes for us really throughout most of the season,” Glenn said. “Today I thought he was really, really effective.”
When Suleman went to the bench in the second half and the team quickly got out of sync, Glenn called on the third-year guard to return to the court.
“He’s our floor general,” Glenn said. “He’s our guy and we’re going to ride his coattails right now. . . He’s our best decision-maker (and) he’s our hardest worker.”
Panthers centre D’Adrian Allen did not play after sustaining a level two sprained ankle on Friday.
UPEI travels to Halifax Friday to play the Dalhousie Tigers.
