MONvsHAL - Game 5 Recap

The battle for supremacy in the NBL Canada Atlantic Division continued in Moncton, with both of two of the league's toughest teams still giving their all and hoping to emerge from the battle with a place in this year's finals.

In what has been an unpredictable series so far, the Moncton Magic last time out evened the tie at two games a piece and were looking to end the Halifax Hurricanes' pattern of going one in front as they returned home to Moncton for game five.

When the game itself got underway, Halifax led for most of the first quarter, by as many as six points, but then had to fight to retain their lead after Moncton’s unflappable offence turned the game on its head early on.

The Hurricanes went five in front in the Q2, but Marcus Lewis led the Magic in the paint to take a double-digit lead just before half-time. A three from Wayne McCullough brought the first half to an end with the Magic on top by 13.

Moncton’s superior offence continued into the second half, taking their biggest lead of 22 points late in the third quarter. Meanwhile, Terry Thomas was giving his all to try and lift the Hurricanes, going on to lead the team with 25 points and 16 rebounds.

Trailing by eighteen at the start of the fourth, however, Halifax were not able to make up the ground in a stilted final period of play. The visitors to the Avenir Centre saw 47 points from their bench in addition to those put up by Thomas, but there was nothing they could do to change their fortunes.

Billy White led all scorers with 29 points, Trey Kell notched up another double-double - this time 22 points and 14 rebounds - and Marcus Lewis had 19 for the Magic as they put one foot in the finals after defeating the Hurricanes 111 points to 93.

The series returns to Halifax for game six, which will be played on Friday May 3rd.