Memorial Sea-Hawks men hoopsters post first two victories of the season

They sweep past Acadia at Field House; Lady Hawks win one, lose one against Axewomen

The Memorial Sea-Hawks’ Emmanuel Ring goes high above the rim for a dunk against the Acadia Axemen during AUS men’s basketball play at the Field House in St. John’s on Saturday. Ring had 24 points and 14 rebounds as Memorial won 88-76. The Sea-Hawks also were victorious 74-59 in a Sunday rematch with Acadia. — Memorial Athletics photo

he Memorial Sea-Hawks registered a rare weekend sweep Saturday and Sunday, taking a pair of games from the Acadia Axemen to improve to 2-3 on the year in Atlantic University Sport men’s basketball.

The Sea-Hawks thumped 1-5 Acadia 74-59 Sunday, following an 88-76 win Saturday night.

The women’s team had to settle for a split after dropping a 97-70 game Sunday. That came off an 88-74 Memorial decision Saturday night.

MUN coach Peter Benoite leaned almost exclusively on his starters — Nathan Barker, Boris Ristanovic, Emmanual Ring, Daniel Foo and Jason Thompson — over the weekend.

Only four points came from the bench Sunday, and 11 in Saturday night’s game.

On Sunday, conference scoring leader Barker sank 25 points to lead the Sea-Hawks at the Field House on the MUN campus. Newcomer Ristanovic, from Serbia, had a huge game for the Sea-Hawks with 15 points and 14 rebounds. Foo scored 14 and Thompson chipped in with 10.

Memorial jumped out to a quick lead, leading 15-8 after the first quarter. The Sea-Hawks were on top 34-24 at halftime.

On Saturday, it was Ring who was the big man on campus with 24 points and 14 rebounds. Foo dropped 25 points, and Barker had 14.

In that game, Acadia led 21-17 after the first quarter, but Memorial caught fire in the second, outscoring the Axemen 29-18.

The Acadia Axewomen did their best to guard Sydney Stewart, but the Memorial Sea-Hawks star put up a total of 54 points in two weekend AUS women’s basketball games at the Field House in St. John’s, including 35 in a Memorial win Saturday. — Memorial Athletics photo

In an AUS women’s game at the Field House Sunday, it was all Acadia in a 27-point win, knocking the Lady Birds back to 3-3 on the year.

Haley McDonald, with 31 points, and Jayda Veinot, with 29, dismantled Memorial. Sydney Stewart and Haille Nickerson both scored 19 points for the Sea-Hawks. Sydney Ezekiel had 18.

On Saturday, Stewart was incredible for the Lady Birds with a 35-point, 10-rebound effort. Nickerson scored 20 and Brooklyn Wright chipped in with 11.

Both basketball teams are in Sydney, N.S., next weekend for a pair of games against the Cape Breton University Capers. Then it’s the Christmas break, with play resuming Jan. 5-6.

Meanwhile, the women’s volleyball team played in an AUS tournament at Acadia University, but didn’t fare so well, losing by 3-0 scores in each of five matchups to Saint Mary’s, Moncton, Dalhousie, UNB and Acadia.

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Twitter: @telysports