CAPERS tip off regular season with convincing victory over REDS 

SYDNEY – The Cape Breton University (CBU) CAPERS (1-0) started the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) men's basketball regular season on a winning note, with a convincing 87-59 victory over the UNB REDS (0-1) on Friday night at the Sullivan Fieldhouse.  

Early in the first quarter, veteran forward Tyson Cato (St. Catherines, ON) of the CAPERS set the tone with a two-handed dunk on the fast break to provide the home side with an initial lead. 

On the strength of five consecutive points from Mark Tobin (Mount Pearl, NL), including a basket from downtown, the REDS took a 14-12 advantage. 

At the end of the first quarter, the CAPERS led 20-15. 

Spurred by an 8-2 spurt early in the second quarter, CBU took their first double-digit lead – at 28-17 – after a highlight-reel dunk from newcomer Liai Tong (St. John's, NL). 

Keyed by five straight points from Marcus Barnes (Kitchener, ON) including a shot from beyond the arc, UNB trimmed the CBU edge to 28-22. 

The CAPERS made a 19-9 run, one sparked by the play of Stefan Anisko (Mississauga, ON) on both ends of the floor – including a sensational alley-oop dunk along the baseline, which gave them their biggest lead of the first half at 47-31. 

Anthony Sears (Antigonish, NS) drained a buzzer-beating three-pointer from the corner to give the REDS some life heading to the locker room. 

CBU led 47-34 at the break. 

Early in the third quarter, after a three-pointer from Reese Zorogole (Halifax, NS), the visitors cut the deficit to 10 points – at 51-41 – which would be as close as the REDS would get for the rest of the match-up. 

The CAPERS finished that stanza on a 12-4 run to take a 63-45 advantage heading to the fourth quarter.  

In the final stanza, ignited by four consecutive points – including a fast-break alley-oop dunk from Anisko – the player of the game, the CAPERS lead mushroomed to 75-47. 

From there, with both sides going deep into their benches, CBU cruised to victory. 

Anisko led a balanced CAPERS' attack with 24 points, along with eight rebounds; not to mention stifling play on the defensive end. Shakael Pryce (Pickering, ON) and Tafarian Black (Scarborough, ON) finished with 12 points apiece. Pryce added seven assists, while Black contributed seven rebounds. 

Cato, the fourth CAPER in double digits, chipped in 10 points, along with six rebounds, while Tong – who was a defensive force, swatting a handful of UNB shots, added eight points and five rebounds. 

For the REDS, Barnes finished with a team-high 14 points, earning him player of the game for UNB.  

The CAPERS and REDS will return to action Saturday, Nov. 2, at 3 p.m. ADT, at Sullivan Fieldhouse. 

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