Edge finally catch up, but can’t overtake Hurricanes

The St. John’s Edge were Hurricane chasers Monday night at Mile One Centre.

They finally caught up in the late going, but couldn’t come away with a win.

Antoine Mason made a three-pointer with four seconds left in the game to break a 97-97 tie as the Halifax Hurricanes downed the Edge 101-97. The result ended St. John’s five-game National Basketball League of Canada win streak which included a 109-104 victory when the two teams met Sunday afternoon at Mile One.

In Monday’s rematch, played before an announced crowd of 2,874, the Edge trailed from the get-go, frequently getting to within two or three points throughout the contest, but never drawing even until the last minute of the game. That’s when Ahmad Thomas’s jump shot finished off an 8-0 home-side run that also included two three-pointers by Jesse Jones.

But Mason, who led all players in the game with 37 points and 15 rebounds, followed up with his dagger trey, augmented by a made free throw when Karrington Ward of St. John’s was called for a foul on the play.

That left the Edge with too little time to make up too many points.

Jones, who moved from the bench to a starting role, led St. John’s (5-5) with 24 points.

The recently signed Thomas delivered 14 points for the home team, while Ward (11), Junior Cadougan (11), Montay Brandon (10) and Tyrone Watson (10) also scored in double figures for the Edge, whose next game is Feb. 4 in Moncton against the Magic.

Like Mason, C.J. Watson had a double-double (20 points and 13 boards) for the Hurricanes (3-9), who outrebounded the Edge 47-30,

Prior to the game, the Edge paid tribute to the late Kobe Bryant with 24 seconds of silence in recognition of the jersey number the fivetime NBA champion wore for much of his time with the L.A. Lakers.

And has been the case in basketball games around the world, the two teams opened up the contest by trading off 24-second timeclock violations in memory of Bryant, who died Sunday in a California helicopter crash that claimed the lives of eight others, including his 13-year-old daughter.