Following a humiliating 35-point loss to the first-place University of New Brunswick Saturday night in Fredericton, N.B., the gritty Memorial Sea-Hawks turned the tide on the Varsity Reds Sunday, coming away with a huge 105-92 win.
There’s still a ways to go this season for the 2-6 Sea-Hawks, but Sunday’s win was a big one because A) it was a four-point game, and B) it sends Memorial into the lengthy exam/Christmas break on a high note.
The Sea-Hawks’ women’s squad is also in good shape, despite an 85-55 loss to the Varsity Reds Sunday. The win snapped a five-game win streak for the Sea-Hawks, one which included a 75-65 win over UNB Saturday.
As for the men, the Sea-Hawks served the Varsity Reds their first loss in eight games this season. MUN enters the break in sixth place — which would put them in the payoffs, if the post-season opened today — with six points.
Daniel Gordon scored 28 points off the bench, while Davion Parnsalu registered a doube-double with 27 points and 10 rebounds.
“We’ve had a slow start to our season, but we wanted to come out and prove a point that we can compete in this league,” said Parnsalu. “We’re coming back and we’re going to be playing better as the season goes on.”
“The main focus was just to come out with energy, come out with focus. We did a better job today.”
Nathan Barker scored 23 points, and Austin Chambers had 11 points with six boards.
The Sea-Hawks got off to a quick start, taking a 22-10 lead after the first quarter. MUN led 43-33 at the half.
It was all UNB Saturday night, however, as Memorial could only muster 18 points from Barker, 11 from Parnsalu and little else in a lopsided 90-55 loss.
The Sea-Hawks return to action January 6-7, when they play host to the Cape Breton Capers, who are seventh in the AUS at 2-5.
Lady Bird also gain a split in Fredericton
After dropping the season-opening series to Acadia in Wolfville, N.S., the Sea-Hawks’ women’s team proceeded to peel off five straight wins, including the 10-point victory Saturday night in Fredericton.
The streak, however, came to an end Saturday as UNB came back with a 30-point statement win Sunday.
Still, though, MUN is 5-3 and sitting in a two-way tie with UNB for second place in the AUS standings.
Like the men’s team, the Lady Birds are off until early January with the Cape Breton series at the Field House.
Only Sydney Stewart, with 10 points, managed double figures Sunday.
“We weren’t really working in the first half on rebounding, and that’s what killed us the most,” said the Sea-Hawks’ Cameron Longley, who had eight points and three boards.
UNB pulled down 48 rebounds Sunday, while the Sea-Hawks managed only 27.
Stewart had the double-double Saturday night with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Brooklyn Wright was MUN’s top scorer with 18 points, and Haille Nickerson scored 10.
Rebounds, by the way, were 37-36 in favour of UNB.
