Panthers’ lockdown defence seals 83-77 comeback win over Acadia

By Thomas Becker

The UPEI Panthers staged a gritty comeback Friday night, riding a stifling fourth-quarter defence to an 83-77 win over the Acadia Axemen.

Trailing 70-64 after three quarters, the Panthers (2-1) clamped down defensively and allowed only seven points in the final frame, holding Acadia (1-2) to a dismal 12.5 per cent shooting.

Fifth-year standout Kamari Scott was the Panthers' heartbeat, putting on a masterful all-around performance with a game-high 26 points, 16 rebounds, five steals, two assists, and a block. Complementing him was Daniel Gonzalez Longarela, who was a powerhouse inside, pouring in 16 points and 10 rebounds in just 15 minutes. Sam Chisholm also contributed with an efficient 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting, five boards, and a steal.

"We came into this game wanting to protect home court and we knew the sacrifices that needed to be made," Scott said. "Everyone did a great job in the fourth quarter and I'm really proud of the guys."

Acadia leaned heavily on former Panther Glen Cox, who put up 22 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Gabe Davignon also chipped in with 17 points, while Ryan Regault and Briawne Wilson added 14 and 12 points off the bench. But the Panthers' tenacity down the stretch proved too much, as Acadia's offence faltered in the closing minutes.

The game started with UPEI attacking the rim at will, leading to a quick 15-5 advantage on a mix of layups and free throws. When Acadia fought back to close the gap, UPEI's Grant Schell countered with a layup, followed by a timely three-pointer from Daren Clarke, pushing the lead to 26-18 by the end of the first quarter.

A pair of buckets from Tarrence Booker and Scott in the second quarter helped UPEI maintain a lead, but Acadia clawed back, scoring seven straight points to make it 33-30. The back-and-forth affair continued well into the second quarter as the half ended with UPEI ahead 45-44. 

Davignon opened the second half with a three to give Acadia a 47-45 edge, but UPEI regained momentum by feeding Gonzalez Longarela in the post. Shortly after, Acadia answered with an eight-point burst thanks to and-ones from Erik Hayden and Cox, forcing UPEI into a timeout. A Scott jumper, followed by a Clarke three, trimmed the deficit to 56-54. But Acadia always had a response and came out of the third quarter ahead 70-64.

With the game on the line, UPEI's defence took centre stage. Down nine with 6:31 left, the Panthers turned up the heat and took control. First, Gonzalez Longarela grabbed the loose ball and went for a layup before Scott scored four straight to make it a 77-74 game. Then, Kyree Thompson's crucial steal led to a fastbreak layup for Gonzalez Longarela, and a drive from Owen Smith led to another easy score in the paint for the big man to put UPEI ahead 78-77.

Another forced turnover set up a Chisholm putback, extending the Panthers' lead to 80-77. The Axemen, stymied by UPEI's defence, were held scoreless over the final 6:31, sealing the win for the Panthers. 

"We want to rest our hat on the way we defend teams, and I thought the last quarter showed what we're capable of," said Panthers head coach Darrell Glenn.

Both teams face off again Saturday at 4 p.m.

Photo Credit: Janessa Vanden Broek