Masters’ buzzer beater sends Reds to semifinals in dramatic win over Capers

(HALIFAX, N.S.) The UNB Reds have advanced to Saturday's semifinals after topping the Cape Breton Capers in buzzer-beating fashion in the second men's quarterfinal matchup of the Subway AUS Men's Basketball Championships Friday night at Scotiabank Centre.

As the clock hit zero, a Marcus Masters (Kitchener, Ont.) shot hit the top of the backboard, bouncing into the net to give the Reds the 77-76 victory. The shot came just seconds after a three from Cape Breton's Osman Omar (Mississauga, Ont.) gave the Capers a two-point lead.

Despite the game coming down to the wire, the first half was all Capers. Cape Breton came out hot to start the first, scoring six three-point shots in the opening frame, including one from CJ Bennett with just seconds remaining, to give the Capers a 32-11 lead after 10 minutes of play.

The Reds looked for the comeback in the second, scoring seven unanswered points to open the frame. They outscored the Capers 19-12 in the quarter to cut Cape Breton's lead to 44-30 at the half. Omar, an AUS second team all-star, was on fire for the Capers in the first 20 minutes of play, draining three three-pointers and racking up 21 points.

Cape Breton looked to extend their lead in the third as a huge dunk from Paul Watson (Mississauga, Ont.) gave the Capers another 20-point lead, 56-36. However, UNB then scored eight unanswered points to cut Cape Breton's lead to 12.

A massive buzzer beater shot from past half from UNB's Daniel Pitcher (Sydney, Australia) closed out the third, and the Reds trailed the Capers 64-50 heading into the final 10 minutes of regulation.

The buzzer beater got the momentum rolling for the Reds in the fourth quarter, as they scored eight more unanswered points, to cut Cape Breton's lead to three.

With 4:27 remaining, a Cape Breton turnover leading to a layup from Ibrahima Doumbouya (Calgary, Alta.) gave UNB their first lead of the game. 

With the clock winding down, both teams were going shot-for-shot until a three from Omar with just 12 seconds remaining put Cape Breton on top, 76-75.

Masters' layup as the clock hit zero secured the victory for UNB, and earned him Subway Player of the Game honours. He finished with 20 points, adding four rebounds, three assists and two steals in the win.

Chris Spurrell (Quispamsis, N.B.) also finished with 20 points for the Reds in the win, adding five rebounds and two assists. Doumbouya finished with a double-double on the night with 15 points and 13 rebounds.

Omar finished with a game-high 31 points for the Capers, adding four rebounds, two assists, three steals and a block in the loss.

The Reds will now face the No. 2-seeded StFX X-Men in the second men's semifinal Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. at the Scotiabank Centre.