Rainmen upset the Capitanes, 106-94

03/21/2010 05:20 PM

Halifax Rainmen’s unbeaten streak at home remains alive as they upset the league-leading Puerto Rico Capitanes 106-94 before a boisterous crowd at the Metro Centre.

The game was one of the more emotion-filled ones of the season, with the momentum shifting back-and-forth, and tempers flaring as a shoving match broke out with seconds left in the third quarter.

The win got the Rainmen back on the winning track, after three tough road losses in overtime. In knocking off the Capitanes, the Rainmen avenged an earlier season loss in Puerto Rico.

The Rainmen stayed ahead by a close margin after each quarter until they opened up a gap late in the final quarter. Gary Earvin led the way with 23 points.
The win improves the Rainmen’s record to 10-5 and increases their hold on the fourth and final playoff spot in the Premier Basketball League (PBL) to a game-and-a-half over the idle Vermont Frost Heaves, 9-7.

The Rainmen enjoy a favourable schedule over the final quarter of their PBL regular season, with only one game against a team ahead of them in the standings. That game is the Rogers Fan Appreciation night at home next Saturday, March 27, against the Lawton-Fort Sill Cavalry.

The Rainmen’s next game is on the road the night before, Friday, in Maryland against the 3-13 GreenHawks.

Of the Rainmen’s final five regular season games, two are at home and three are on the road, including an important April 2 match in Vermont against the fifth place Frost Heaves, the only team capable of catching them for the final playoff berth.