Thompson shines as Panthers bench powers 84-69 win over Huskies

By Thomas Becker

The UPEI Panthers surged past the Saint Mary's Huskies 84-69 Friday night, fuelled by a dominant bench effort and some stingy fourth-quarter defence.

The win showcased the Panthers' depth and resilience, with the bench outscoring Saint Mary's (2-3) reserves 39-12, a critical factor in the outcome. Defensively, UPEI (3-2) stepped up in the final quarter, locking down the Huskies and holding them to just 13 points on 4-of-12 shooting to secure the win.

Third-year guard Kyree Thompson had his best game of the season, leading UPEI with 17 points, including a red-hot 4-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc. Thompson's contributions off the bench extended beyond scoring, as he added three assists and three steals in an energetic performance that set the tone for the Panthers.

"Our job is to bring a spark off the bench and keep the tempo the starters set," Thompson said. "My shot was falling tonight, and I was just focused on bringing energy every time I was out there."

Among the starters, Kamari Scott was a steady presence, contributing 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Sam Chisholm added 12 points, shooting 4-of-5 from three, while Daniel Gonzalez Longarela made a significant impact defensively and on the boards. Gonzalez Longarela grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds and held Huskies centre Eliel Nsoseme to just eight points and five rebounds, while adding eight points of his own. 

The Huskies were led by Jasha'jaun Downey, who finished with 14 points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Marc-Denault Gabriel added 13 points, eight rebounds, and two steals, while Jayrell Diggs matched Gabriel's scoring output with 13 points, along with five rebounds and three assists.

The game opened as a tightly contested battle, with both teams trading blows before UPEI seized control late in the first quarter. A Sam Dyck floater gave the Panthers an early 7-6 edge, but the Huskies answered with a three-pointer from Diggs and two free throws from Downey to reclaim the lead. UPEI quickly countered, ignited by Tarrence Booker's layup and steal, which launched a 16-5 run. The surge was punctuated by a Thompson three-pointer and Scott's strong finish at the rim which pushed the score to 27-16. Thompson continued his offensive clinic with an and-one play and another triple, finishing the quarter with eight points and propelling the Panthers to a 33-21 lead after one.

After the game, Panthers head coach Darrell Glenn praised Thompson's ability to take over a game offensively.

"He can have nights like this when everything is falling. I kind of anointed him 'The Microwave,' because when he heats up like that, he's pretty special."

UPEI wasted no time building on their lead early in the second quarter. A three-pointer from Daren Clarke and a tough layup by Thompson extended the advantage to 38-21. The Huskies responded with a 7-0 run to trim the deficit to 40-28, but Thompson silenced their momentum with another clutch three-pointer. The Panthers maintained control and headed into halftime with a comfortable 52-38 lead. 

"I haven't been shooting well the last few games, but my teammates trust me and keep giving me opportunities, so that helps build my confidence," said Thompson, who led all scorers with 14 at the break.

The third quarter proved to be a rough stretch for UPEI, as they struggled offensively, scoring just 10 points on 3-of-15 shooting, which allowed the Huskies to close the gap. Saint Mary's started the quarter strong with layups from Downey and Nsoseme, trimming the lead to 52-42 and prompting UPEI to call a timeout. The Panthers responded with a much-needed spark as Thompson drained his fourth three-pointer of the night. However, the Huskies kept the pressure on with layups from Diggs and Gabriel, narrowing the margin to 59-53. UPEI added three points from the free-throw line, but a buzzer-beating three by Diggs cut the Panthers' lead to just six, 62-56, heading into the final frame.

The Panthers found their rhythm in the fourth quarter, thanks to rookie point guard Hugo Bermejo, who delivered his best stretch of the game. After a three-pointer from Devawn White trimmed the lead to just three, Bermejo took control, driving for a layup, forcing a turnover, and scoring again to push UPEI's advantage to 69-60. Bermejo later drilled a clutch three-pointer, and a corner triple from Chisholm all but sealed the deal.

The Panthers will look for the weekend sweep as the two teams battle it out again Saturday night at 6 p.m.

Photo Credit: Janessa Vanden Broek