Tigers edge Panthers 88-85

HALIFAX, NS—The Dalhousie Tigers defeated the University of Prince Edward Island Panthers 88-85 on Saturday at Dalplex.

Spencer Riar (Montreal, QC) tallied Dal's first seven points on the day, giving Dal an early 7-4 lead.

Jace Colley (East Preston, NS) opened the scoring for the Panthers on a made layup just over a minute into the game.

Randall Browne (Bowmanville, ON) hit a 3-pointer with nine seconds left of the quarter, giving the Tigers a 25-18 lead. Kamari Scott (Malton, ON) would have the last say in the quarter, beating the buzzer with a layup to cut the lead to five points. 

Scott would make another layup to open the scoring in the third quarter, cutting the lead to three points. 

Malcolm Christie (Fredericton, NB), the player of the game, responded with a 3-pointer to put Dal back up by six points. Christie scored three 3-pointers in the half.

UPEI outscored Dal 22-15 in the second quarter, gaining a two-point lead going into halftime. Scott once again scored a basket in the dying seconds of the quarter, finishing the half with 10 points. 

Nginyu Ngala (Montreal, QC) opened the scoring in the third quarter for the Tigers with a jump shot to tie the game. 

Colley was everywhere for the Panthers in the quarter, making three layups and scoring a 3-pointer. 

The Panthers led 67-62 at the end of the quarter.  

Riar opened the scoring in the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer, cutting the lead to two points.  

It was a tight fourth quarter, as the Tigers took a 68-67 lead from a Christie 3-pointer with 7:27 left. 

Kyree Thompson (North Preston, NS) responded with an off-balance 3-pointer to give the Panthers the lead. Sam Maillet (Moncton, NB) came down the floor and scored a tough and-one, tying the game for the Tigers.

Christie heated up in the fourth quarter, scoring a 3-pointer and then making a reverse layup for an and-one. Christie converted the free throw, putting the Tigers up by six points with 5:36 remaining.

With 3:51 left, Christie hit another 3-pointer, giving the Tigers an 11-point lead. Christie finished the game with 27 points and seven 3-pointers.

However, the Panthers would claw back and cut the lead to one point with 29 seconds left with a 3-pointer from Colley. Colley and Scott were electric in the comeback, scoring the Panthers last 15 points. Colley led the Panthers in scoring with 29 points.

Ngala put the Tigers up by three points off a crafty layup with nine seconds left. Ngala completed the game with 21 points. 

The Panthers had two shot attempts to tie the game from 3-point range but missed both. 

The Tigers move to 5-3 on the season, as the Panthers fall to 3-5.

RECAP COURTESY: Dalhousie Tigers Communications / PHOTOS BY: Nick Pearce