Shorthanded Panthers roll past Dalhousie 67-51

Down four regulars and staring at a tight AUS playoff race, the UPEI Panthers didn't have the luxury of easing into Friday night, and they didn't.

Shorthanded without Sam Chisholm, Owen Smith, Cameron Brown, and Aleer Aleer Leek, the Panthers delivered one of their most complete efforts of the season, rolling past the Dalhousie Tigers 67-51 Friday night at the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre.

The opening quarter was a reminder of how quickly Dalhousie (5-7) can apply pressure. The Tigers struck first racing out to a 12-3 lead, capped by a Riley Stewart three that forced UPEI to reset. The Panthers (5-7) found their footing once Tarrence Booker checked in and began attacking gaps in the defence. Booker cleaned up his own miss for a layup, then splashed a three off a Kyree Thompson feed to inject life into the building. Nicolas Gonzalez Longarela tipped in a miss, Thompson got downhill for a jumper, and Sam Dyck added a late pull-up as UPEI closed the frame on a run, trimming the deficit to 18-16. 

UPEI opened the quarter by tying it 18-18, then began stacking stops and turning them into points. Hugo Bermejo was everywhere, jumping passing lanes, finishing at the rim and pushing tempo as Dalhousie's offence stalled. Matthew Magnan turned the tide with a career-high night, scoring nine points in the pivotal second quarter, drilling a three and cleaning up traffic around the rim as the Panthers ripped off a surge that ballooned to 33-21. By halftime, UPEI had turned a two-point deficit into a 41-25 advantage, winning the quarter 25-7 and putting real separation between themselves and the Tigers. 

The third quarter wasn't pretty, as it was the only stretch where UPEI's offence disappeared. The Panthers shot 14.3% in the frame, while Dalhousie won it 11-10. But even without buckets, UPEI protected the paint, rebounded, and survived the lull without letting the Tigers build serious momentum.

Any hope of a Dalhousie comeback was snuffed early in the fourth. After a Tigers three cut it to 51-39, Bermejo answered with a quick finish, and Magnan buried a triple to restore breathing room at 56-39. Booker added another huge three later, and UPEI's defence kept forcing turnovers on a night where the Panthers scored 21 points off turnovers and won the second-chance battle 15-11.

Bermejo led the way with 16 points, six rebounds, and six steals in a disruptive two-way night, Magnan added 14, and Booker chipped in 12 as UPEI's short rotation found enough scoring and more than enough grit to bank a statement win in a jam-packed playoff race.

The Panthers return to action next weekend, hosting the UNB Reds for a two-game set at the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre.