Sunday 8 January 2012

AUS Today: Huskies defending again; Dal sweeps

Dalhousie 92, Memorial 82 (4 point game)  The Tigers fought off a late Sea-hawk push with a 10-0 run in the last 5 minutes that sealed the victory for a sweep eight points over the weekend to propel themselves back into a playoff position.  Dal had a double digit lead for much of the second half as 6'6" William Yengue (18 points, 5 rebounds, 8-14 shooting) and 6'1" wing Stephen Lopez (14 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists) went to work but Mark Woodland (game-high 20 points) scored 5 straight to help get the game back to 4 with only 5 1/2 minutes remaining.  Tigers then clamped down and went to work offensively, capped by a three-pointer by 6'3" Casey Fox (11 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists), as Dal went 10-23 from downtown for the game.  The game was tight throughout the first half until 6'3" Alex Arthur (15 points, 4-9 3's) knocked down three 3's in the final three minutes of the second quarter, the first one giving Dal the lead for good at 36-33 and MUN trailed by 5 at the half.  Later, the Tigers finished the third quarter on a 10-2 run to lead by 17 at 77-60 but Memorial had one run left.  Jason Shepherd added 19 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists for Memorial which remains in last place in the AUS.

Saint Mary's 91, UPEI 83 (2 point game)  With a solid display of half-court "d", especially guarding the ball, the Huskies won their second straight over the Panthers, taking a 12 point lead midway through the second quarter, building leads as large as 22 and never looking back for the comfortable win while holding UPEI to 34% shooting.  Huskies held the normally-explosive Panthers to just 53 points after 3 quarters, building up a 22 point lead early in the fourth before UPEI brought it back to 5 with a minute to play.  SMU coach Ross Quackenbush clearly spoke to Huskies defensive woes after an uncharacteristic 2-5 first half of league play in the AUS and if this afternoon is any indication, Huskies have turned it around, creating Panther turnovers and consistently getting to the rim or to open perimeter looks.  While 6'5" Torey Fassett (27 points, 12 in the first half) as usual was instrumental in the win despite missing much of the first half with two fouls, Saint Mary's got blue collar performances from their pair of hard-working bigs 6'8" Iain Robertson (4 points, 8 rebounds) and 6'7" Riley Halpin (13 points on 5-11 shooting).  Also, 6'4" freshman Warren Liang had 10 of his career-high 13 points in the first-half.  Panthers made their one and only big run late in the game led by 14 fourth-quarter points from 6'2" Jonathan Cooper, who finished with a game high 29 while Terrance Brown added 27 but the Panther suffered their 4th consecutive loss going back to the semi-finals of the Shoveller tournament.  Saint Mary's played without 6'5" athletic post Harry Ezenibe, out with an injury.

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