Szemerda Sets Tone For Seawolves Against Mounties

(Saint John, NB) – UNB Saint John came out sharp at home and never really let Mount Allison University settle, rolling to a 105 to 73 win built on early pressure, efficient scoring, and a steady stream of momentum plays in every quarter.

The first quarter set the tone fast. Mount A scored first, but UNBSJ answered immediately through Ethan Szemerda and started stacking stops into transition looks. Aj Nash got cooking early with tough pull ups and a big three, and UNBSJ's activity on the ball showed up in the play by play with steals from Szemerda and Daren Clarke that turned into points. By the time Ernest Vovk buried a three off an assist and Lance Howlett finished a steal with a bucket, UNBSJ had pushed the lead to 27 to 15 after ten. Brennan Devereux tried to keep Mount A connected with shot making, including a late first quarter three, but UNBSJ's pace and defensive disruption were already stretching the game.

The second quarter is where the Seawolves separated. UNBSJ kept generating extra chances with offensive rebounds, and the lead jumped when Szemerda drilled a three with an assist from Nash and Howlett hit another from deep, also set up by Nash. Even when Mount A found answers, with Devereux splashing a three and Kwame Asiedu hitting one right after, UNBSJ's responses were immediate and cleaner. At halftime it was 47 to 32, with UNBSJ controlling the flow through steals, free throws, and timely shooting.

Mount Allison had moments in the third. Ryan Norris hit a three, Jonas Munroe knocked one down, and they briefly traded buckets. But every push got met by a UNBSJ counter, including Szemerda's three, Nash repeatedly getting to his spots, and Vovk adding another catch and shoot dagger. The fourth quarter turned into a runout. UNBSJ forced turnovers in bunches, Clarke lived at the line, and the bench finished strong with Ewan Robertson scoring late as the lead ballooned past 30.

Leaders told the story. Szemerda led all scorers with 26 on 9 of 13 shooting and a perfect 6 for 6 at the line, while Clarke poured in 22 with steady playmaking and pressure defense. Nash added 20 with key assists that sparked multiple threes, and Vovk chipped in 13 with three triples off the bench. For Mount Allison, Devereux was the main engine with 19, followed by Munroe's 15 and Norris's 12, but UNBSJ's efficiency, depth, and constant ball pressure decided it early.

--- Russell Malally, BSW '27 ---