Team Sunderland M1 88-70 Durham M2: Dominant display with a standout performance
Mario Tanuous scored 21 points and racked up three steals, his team earning a second BUCS performance of the week from Team Sunderland this year.
The home side were better throughout, leading every minute and outscoring Durham in every quarter. A great shooting performance was on show as 10 three pointers were scored in the game with 5 of them coming from Sunderland, three from Youssif Nahkla, one from Rory Sullivan-Mccullagh and one from Tanuous.
Tanuous had a star performance scoring 21 of his teams 88 points and grabbing three steals, converting them into points to extend the lead.
Sunderland went into this game off the back of a 73-65 loss a week prior to Liverpool John Moore’s men’s firsts in the Northern Conference cup, going out of the competition in the second round. They advanced from the first round with a walkover. In the previous BUCS fixture, Sunderland had lost 76-57 to Newcastle’s mens seconds.
Claiming victory in this game would move either team up to second in the Northern Tier 2B league.
To start the game, Sunderland scored eight unanswered points. Sullivan-Mccullagh was blocked near the end of the quarter and instantly redeemed himself on the next play with a three over the player who blocked him. The score soon evened out at 21-20 to end the quarter.
Durham entered the second quarter with a statement three pointer trying to achieve a lead change. Tanuous grabbed himself a steal midway through the quarter and converted it with a layup. The score being 39-33 to Sunderland at the half.
Ruben Hezekiel pulled off an incredible move after a Tanuous pass, receiving the ball with his right hand while running into the key and switching his hands mid air to get past the defender and bounce the ball of the backboard for a tough basket. Seeing the lead increase slightly in the third quarter.
Sunderland cruised to victory in the last quarter scoring 29 points and extending the lead to 18 points in the end.
Sunderland remain second in the Northern Tier 2B league, sitting on 6 points alongside Leeds Beckett 1s and Durham 2s. Although, they are six points behind Newcastle 2s who have played an extra game.
