Double overtime drama: Panthers claw past Huskies for first win of the season

By Thomas Becker

The UPEI Panthers dug deep and delivered an instant classic Friday night, outlasting the Saint Mary's Huskies 95-90 in double overtime to earn their first win of the season and remind the AUS why they're still the defending champions.

With their closer, Kyree Thompson, fouling out late in the first overtime after scoring a team-high 18 points, the Panthers (1-2) needed someone to step up, and second-year point guard Hugo Bermejo answered the call. The poised floor general scored six of his 16 points in the second overtime, including a dagger corner three with 2:49 remaining to extend UPEI's lead to 90-84, effectively sealing the victory.

Bermejo wasn't alone in his heroics. Owen Smith delivered one of his best games as a Panther, coming off the bench to shoot 6-of-9 from the field, including three triples, on his way to 16 points, while Abilash Surendran added a hard-fought double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. 

The Panthers, eager to bounce back after an 0-2 start, came out firing. They built an early 18-7 lead behind a balanced attack, capped by a Thompson three and a Brown layup. However, Saint Mary's (0-3) closed the quarter on a 9-3 run to stay within striking distance at 21-16.

The second quarter turned into a defensive grind, with both teams struggling to generate anything on offence. UPEI maintained a slim 29-26 advantage at halftime, but the Huskies swung momentum their way in the third. A 6-0 run to open the quarter gave them their first lead, and they stretched it to nine, 52-43, on a Diego Ramos layup. The Saint Mary's bench proved pivotal, combining for 12 points in the frame to help take control.

But the Panthers refused to fold. Smith ignited the comeback with 13 fourth-quarter points, including a fast-break three that put UPEI back ahead 61-57. Still, the Huskies clawed back late. Down two in the final seconds, Saint Mary's Devawn White—who finished with a game-high 25 points, 12 rebounds, and five steals—tipped in a missed three from Jayrell Diggs to send the game into overtime tied at 71. 

The first overtime featured more drama. Saint Mary's jumped ahead 75-71, but Thompson attacked relentlessly, converting free throws and a clutch baseline jumper to tie it at 80. Out of a timeout, Glenn drew up a perfect sideline inbound play that freed Surendran for an open layup, giving UPEI an 82-81 lead with four seconds remaining. But the Huskies had one last chance. Diggs drove hard to the rim and was fouled, but the veteran guard made just one of two free throws, and the game rolled into a second overtime where UPEI took over for good.

That's when Bermejo took control, calmly orchestrating the offence and burying shots that broke Saint Mary's spirit.

The two teams meet again Saturday at 4 p.m., when UPEI will celebrate its 2024-25 AUS Championship banner before tip-off.