Mystics bench lead MSVU to victory over Blue Devils

(Halifax, NS) The Mount Saint Vincent Mystics defeated their crosstown rival University of King's Blue Devils 102-76 at the A. Garnet Brown Memorial Gymnasium. 

Isaiah Cromwell-Wright (Dartmouth, NS) came off the bench this evening and finished with a game-high 19 points, chipped in six rebounds in his Mystics home debut. Isaac Matheson (Bedford, NS) also finished with a game-high 19 points for the Mystics' offense. Demeric Mercer (Halifax, NS) also had a strong bench performance as he finished with 14 points, six rebounds, and four assists. 

Caleb Rennie (Ajax, ON) led the way for the Blue Devils, as he finished with a team-high 16 points, and five rebounds. Kalon MacDonald-Wood (Charlottetown, PE) supported the Blue Devils' offence with 12 points and four rebounds. Kibrom Kefte (Hamilton, ON) rounded the Blue Devils' attack  with 12 points and three rebounds. 

Moments after the tip off, the Mystics took the early lead, as Jaxon Smith (Beechville, NS) drove to the basket for the strong finish which drew the foul. The Blue Devils would get on the scoreboard in style as Marco Cvitanovic (Zadar, Croatia) would steal the ball and pushed the ball in transition for the euro-step finish. Both teams played a defensive quarter forcing their opponents into tough baskets. The Blue Devils would come out of the quarter with a narrow 17-15 lead.

As the second quarter started, both teams looked for a spark off their bench. Cromwell-Wright had the green light from the field, finishing with 15 points in the quarter. He displayed his offensive repertoire with a trio of threes, and strong mid range jumpers as well. The Blue Devils would answer Cromwell-Wright's offense with their own bench marksmen, Noah Lopez (Milton, ON) and MacDonald-Wood as they finished the quarter with two threes each. In a tightly contested quarter, the Mystics claw back as Jaydan Smith (Beechville, NS) tied the game at 34 with a driving floater. The Mystics would extend their lead thanks to consecutive highlight plays from Matheson. He ignited the Mystics' offence with a strong drive through contact for the and-1 finish and a transition lay-up. The Mystics would take a 45-41 lead into the halftime break. 

The Mystics came out of the locker room strong as Jax. Smith knocked down a quick three-pointer but the Blue Devils would respond with a Rennie lay-up. Jax. Smith would hit another three a few possessions later for the Mystics. Matheson would extend the lead for the Mystics to eight with a reverse lay-up from Jax. Smith entry pass. The Mystics continued to attack the Blue Devils' defence with a pull-up three from Adam Callaghan (Sydney, NS) and offensive rebound from Cromwell-Wright that led to his post-hook basket. As the quarter dwindled, the Mystics would further extend their lead as Matheson would strip the Blue Devils and finished with the two-handed slam. The Mystics led the Blue Devils 72-57 as teams headed into the final quarter.

The fourth quarter started with strong flurry from the Mystics, as Mercer drove for a strong take which drew the foul followed by a transition layup from Jax. Smith, as his brother Jayd. Smith found him for the outlet pass over the defence. Later in the quarter, Mercer had consecutive plays for the Mystics as he curled to the basket off a screen for the lay-up followed by a transition midrange jumper. The Blue Devils strung together consecutive efficient possessions, highlighted by strong finish from Jerome Williams (New Glasgow, NS) and a three-pointer from Yosias Beyene (Fredericton, NB). The late attack from the Blue Devils was too not enough as the Mystics pulled away, as they won 102-76. 

The Mystics move to 12-0. They return to the court tomorrow evening as they host the Mount Allison Mounties. Tip-off is at 8:00pm. The Blue Devils fall to 3-10. They will travel to Fredericton next Saturday, February 1st as they visit the St. Thomas Tommies. Tip-off is at 8:00pm.