Panthers stifle Tigers in 82-56 blowout

By Thomas Becker

The UPEI Panthers turned in one of their most impressive performances of the season Saturday night, overwhelming the Dalhousie Tigers in an 82-56 blowout.

A relentless defensive effort forced a season-high 29 turnovers, leading to 28 points the other way, while the Panthers' deep bench outscored Dalhousie's reserves 46-28 in the lopsided victory. 

Kamari Scott led the charge for UPEI off the bench, finishing with 12 points, seven assists, six rebounds, and a steal. Sam Chisholm also contributed 12 points, along with four steals. Nicolas Gonzalez Longarela had a career-high 10 points and five rebounds, while his brother, Daniel Gonzalez Longarela, recorded his fifth double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds as a starter. 

Speaking of the balanced attack, Daniel said it starts at practice.

"Every practice is highly competitive, and everyone is determined to win," he said. "The way we practice and play reflects the hard work we put in, and our success comes from the commitment we bring each day." 

For Dalhousie (3-9), Nathaniel Titus was the lone bright spot, scoring 14 points and grabbing eight rebounds, including 11 points in the fourth quarter.

The game started slow offensively, with UPEI (6-6) holding a narrow 10-6 lead six minutes into the first quarter. However, Chisholm sparked a Panthers surge with consecutive layups, extending the lead to 14-7. By the end of the opening frame, UPEI led 19-8.

The Panthers carried their momentum into the second quarter, where Sam Dyck opened with a physical putback and-one to push the lead to 22-8. Moments later, Kyree Thompson dazzled the crowd by spinning past a defender and threading a perfect pass to Gonzalez Longarela for a flashy layup. Thompson followed that up with a three-pointer, extending the advantage to 29-12.

A Hugo Bermejo three-pointer midway through the quarter capped a 15-6 UPEI run, pushing the lead to 20 at 34-14. Chisholm then erupted for seven straight points, helping the Panthers take a commanding 45-19 lead into halftime. Chisholm led all scorers at the break with 12 points.

The Panthers continued to pour it on in the third. Rookie guard Booker opened the half with a highlight-reel layup, flipping the ball over his shoulder while driving baseline. Scott added six points in the frame, including a layup at the 3:11 mark to make it 53-28. Both teams struggled offensively down the stretch, but UPEI maintained a dominant 65-38 lead heading into the final quarter.

In the fourth, a Scott layup pushed the Panthers' lead to 31 points. Dalhousie's Titus went on a scoring spree, hitting three three-pointers and scoring 11 of his team-high 14 points. However, it was too little, too late, as UPEI cruised to an 82-56 victory.

The Panthers will look to keep their momentum going next weekend when they travel to Wolfville, NS, for a two-game series against the Acadia Axemen.

Photo Credit: Janessa Vanden Broek