Downey hits seven threes to lead Huskies to 99-76 win over Sea-Hawks

HALIFAX, NS – Saint Mary's guard Jasha'jaun Downey hit seven three-pointers on his way to a team-high 23 points, as the Huskies defeated the Memorial Sea-Hawks 99-76 in Atlantic University Sport Men's Basketball action on Saturday afternoon at the Homburg Centre in Halifax.

It was the Sea-Hawks who took an early lead, with a three-pointer from forward Norm Burry (Grafton, NB) putting them ahead 7-2. But Saint Mary's responded with guard Jasha'jaun Downey (North Preston, NS), hitting a pair of threes to cut the lead to 11-10.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Jasha'jaun Downey hits a tough step back three in the first quarter! pic.twitter.com/NBaPHrV94O

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) November 9, 2024

Saint Mary's guards Marc-Denault Gabriel (Montreal, QC) and Devawn White (Montreal, QC) scored the next eight Huskies points to give Saint Mary's a 20-16 lead, but a late dunk from Sea-Hawks forward Joshua Francis (Calgary, AB) cut the lead to 20-18 after 10 minutes of play.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Marc-Denault Gabriel with a tough finish down low as the Huskies take a 20-18 lead after 10 minutes of action! pic.twitter.com/5NGvPceVNL

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) November 9, 2024

The second quarter saw Downey continue his hot shooting, as he made back-to-back three-pointers to extend the Huskies lead to 30-25.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Jasha'jaun Downey is on fire! Five first half threes on his way to 17 points and the Huskies lead 43-38 at the half! pic.twitter.com/kVlw1kEqdP

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) November 9, 2024

Memorial was able to respond with some great play from guard Flynn Boardman-Raffet (London, UK) and forward Cameron Stanford (St. John's, NL) who each scored four second quarter points, but Downey was the story, hitting two more three's on his way to 14 second quarter points.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Another insane three from Jasha'jaun Downey! pic.twitter.com/mhEB1GIn9X

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) November 10, 2024

Downey's final three gave the Huskies a 43-38 lead at the half. Downey poured in 20 first half points on 6/9 shooting from beyond the arc, while Gabriel and White each chipped in six points for the home team.

Memorial were led in the first half by 10 points from Burry and nine points from Boardman-Raffet.

Saint Mary's began the second half establishing the interior, with a lay-in from Marc-Denault Gabriel followed by four straight points from forward Eliel Nsoseme (Kinshasa, DRC). Downey's seventh three of the night gave the Huskies a commanding 56-40 lead midway through the quarter.

Memorial started cutting into the lead, with Flynn Boardman-Raffet getting to the free-throw line and making a pair to cut the score to 65-56, but Saint Mary's responded, with guard Jayrell Diggs (East Preston, NS) hitting a three-point play to restore the lead to 72-58 heading into the final quarter.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Jayrell Diggs is a magician! An acrobatic and-one lay-up gives the Huskies a 72-58 lead after three quarters! pic.twitter.com/uwZCr1OOgW

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) November 10, 2024

The Huskies continued growing their lead in the fourth quarter, with Eliel Nsoseme scoring back-to-back buckets, extending the Huskies lead to 76-58. The Sea-Hawks responded with a 9-0 run capped by a three-pointer from guard Josh Reimer (St. John's, NL) to cut the lead to 76-67, but Devawn White hit a three to stop the run.

Saint Mary's took over in the final minutes of the fourth, finishing the game on a 23-9 run, with three-pointers from reserves Aidan MacDonald (Timberlea, NS) and Mason Thurber (Bedford, NS) capping off the 99-76 victory.

Huskies guard Jasha'jaun Downey was named Player of the Game, pouring in 23 points on 7/10 from three, and adding two rebounds and two assists. Four other Huskies scored in double-figures – Jayrell Diggs and Marc-Denault Gabriel each dropped 17 points, Eliel Nsoseme scored 16 and Devawn White chipped in 10 points off the bench.

The Sea-Hawks were once again led by guard Flynn Boardman-Raffet who scored 29 points and added eight rebounds, while forward Norm Burry chipped in 15 points.

The Huskies win improves their record to 2-2 on the season, while the Sea-Hawks fall to 2-2.

Saint Mary's will hit the road for a pair of games against the UPEI Panthers (2-2) next weekend, Friday, Nov. 15 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 16 at 6 p.m. in Charlottetown, PEI.

The Sea-Hawks will return to home court next weekend, hosting the Acadia Axemen (2-2) for a pair of games, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. NST.

Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics
Photos by Eduardo Ibarra / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics