Panthers overcome slow start to take down Memorial 80-75

By Thomas Becker

Balanced scoring and a timely defensive performance from Isaiah Ankra helped the UPEI Panthers come away with an 80-75 win over the Memorial Sea-Hawks. 

Five Panthers finished in double figures with Dakelle Brooks leading the way with a team-high 17 points on 4-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc. Elijah Miller scored 16 to go along with five assists, five rebounds and five steals, while Ankra and Glen Cox had 12 apiece. Kamari Scott also reached double figures with 11 points and six steals.

UPEI head coach Darrell Glenn is no stranger to a 2-0 start. The last time it happened, his team finished last. So, while he's pleased with the wins, he issued caution to his team to not settle and to stay hungry.

"Our focus has to be to continue to get better," Glenn said. "We got out of this game with a win because we're a gritty group right now. But we have to be able to execute on both ends of the floor much, much better." 

That execution he speaks of was not present in the first quarter. After an uncharacteristic performance the night before, Memorial's Cole Long scored 14 of his game-high 20 points in the first and helped his team take a 29-19 lead.

The Panther starters struggled in the quarter and put the team in a hole early, forcing Glenn to turn to his bench for some life. Fortunately for them, the bench provided a lift and kept pace with Memorial while the starters sorted things out. 

Brooks kickstarted the UPEI offence early in the second with a pair of triples before he drove through the lane for a layup to trim the deficit to 36-29. Following Brooks' lead, Ankra and Miller attacked the rim at will and converted a pair of layups each, as the Panthers got within three, 40-37. 

Ankra provided a big lift off the bench with his swarming defence. He consistently forced turnovers in his 11 minutes of action, which led to fastbreak opportunities. He finished the half with nine points, including an old-fashioned three-point play to send UPEI into the break down just 45-44. 

Ankra was recruited because of his defensive tenacity, and it showed Sunday afternoon as his performance turned the tide for the Panthers.

"My main job is to disrupt the other team," Ankra said. "I know I can do a lot more, but for now, I think it's really important I bring that defensive intensity." 

Just like the second quarter, Brooks set the tone in the third and scored five straight and gave the Panthers their first lead of the game, 49-47. They'd trade baskets for most of the quarter before Ankra followed up a Miller layup with a three-pointer, as the Panthers extended their lead to 63-57. 

After Nicholas Tuff pulled the Sea-Hawks ahead with back-to-back triples early in the fourth, Miller and Brooks connected on threes of their own to retake the lead. Miller then carved up the defence and dished it to Matthew Bryant for the layup and the 71-68 advantage. Memorial got to within one shortly after, but Miller scored the next four points to secure the 80-75 win. 

"It's an amazing feeling to get the two wins, especially at home in front of our fans," Miller said. "We were motivated after seeing the preseason poll and we wanted to beat the team that was picked in front of us."

The Panthers take their perfect record on the road where they'll take on the Dalhousie Tigers. Tip off is set for Nov. 5 at 8 p.m.

Photo Credit: Janessa Hogan