Panthers ride strong start to 85-72 victory

HALIFAX, NS—The UPEI Panthers (3-1) defeated the Dalhousie Tigers (3-1) 85-72 Saturday night in Halifax. 

The Panthers got off to a quick start in the second of back-to-back games with the Tigers this weekend and had a six-point lead halfway through the first quarter. They extended the lead to 12-5 before Dalhousie head coach Rick Plato called for a timeout with just under four minutes remaining in the first quarter.  

The Tigers got into foul trouble and shot just 27% from the floor and 25% from beyond the arc. At the end of the first quarter, UPEI was up 27-9 with balanced scoring from Elijah Miller (Rexdale, Ont.) leading the way with six points. 

Dalhousie struggled to get their footing in the second while UPEI continued to increase their lead and were up 40-18 just over halfway through. The Tigers were able to bring it within 16 to end the first half down 45-29.  

Kamari Scott (Malton, Ont.) went four-for-five in three-point shooting in the first half and had a total of 12 points to lead all players in scoring. Miller added nine for the Panthers while Alex Carson (Lower Sackville, N.S.) chipped in eight for the Tigers. 

Samuel Wade (Wallace, N.S.) was a sparkplug for the Tigers in the third quarter, scoring 10 points, but Dalhousie was still unable to cut into the Panthers lead by anymore than four points and still trailed 69-50 going into the fourth and final quarter. The Panthers hot scoring touch continued while the Tigers continued to struggle to score. 

The Tigers pressed hard on defence to start the fourth quarter and capitalized on UPEI turnovers to cut into the Panthers lead. Miller scored back-to-back three-pointers to halt the rush. UPEI led 75-62 with 5:19 left to play in the game. 

Carson hit a three after a Dalhousie timeout to make it a 10-point game before Isaiah Ankari (North York, Ont.) responded with one of his own. Carson and Nginyu Ngala (Montreal, QC) capitalized on Panther fouls to go five-for-five on free throws with 2:30 left in the game. 

UPEI was able to withstand the pressure however to win the game 85-72. 

Elijah Miller earned Subway Player of the Game honours after scoring 24 points and hauling down 10 rebounds. Kamari Scott went five-for-nine in three-point shooting to add 16 points and four rebounds. 

Alex Carson scored a game-high 27 points and had five rebounds for the Tigers while Samuel Wade and Caleb Sooley (Mount Pearl, N.L.) contributed 14 points apiece. 

The Panthers host Cape Breton on Friday, November 12 while the Tigers head to Newfoundland for a two-game series with Memorial next weekend.