CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — The UPEI Panthers saw an early 17-point lead disappear Saturday night in a 79-65 loss to the UNB Varsity Reds in Atlantic University Sport men’s basketball action.
The Panthers held a 22-14 lead after the first quarter and a 35-34 advantage at the half but went to the third trailing 54-49 en route to their third straight loss.
UNB improved to 11-5 while UPEI falls to 4-11 and are tied with Acadia for seventh in the eight-team conference. Both teams are two points back of St. FX (4-10) for the final playoff spot.
Tyrell Leotaud had 20 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Reds while Chris Spurrell had 17 points and Ibrahima Doumbouya hauled in 19 rebounds to go with 12 points.
Amin Suleman had 21 points for the Panthers while Milorad Sedlarevic scored 10. Jamesley Jerome had a team-high 12 rebounds.
Each team shot 39 per cent from the field. The Panthers had 17 turnovers while the Reds had eight.
The Panthers travel to Halifax on Sunday, Feb. 10, to play the Dalhousie Tigers at 3 p.m.
