Cardiff menÔÇÖs basketball continued their fine season form with a fantastic win over arch rivals Swansea, with a convincing 76-60 win at the Welsh Institute of Sport.
Although they play in a higher division than Swansea, Swansea went into the game undefeated so far this year, and head coach Nick Bartlett said before the game that he felt it would be “the closest Varsity in yearsÔÇÖÔÇÖ. Cardiff were looking for their sixth win in a row in this event, which they have dominated of late. Both sides came on to the court wearing ÔÇÿGet Well LeoÔÇÖ T-shirts as a mark of respect for SwanseaÔÇÖs recently hospitalised captain, Leo Gould.
Swansea won the tip and scored with their first couple of journeys into the paint, before Anthony Olowo got Cardiff on the scoreboard, leaving Swansea ahead early in the first quarter, 6-2. Cardiff were rebounding really well, before Dreck sunk a three pointer from downtown, and Bauer and Nickson both posted some sublime lay-ups and Swansea ended the quarter in front by a point, 16-15. Lokmadrhev pitched in with some free throws and CzuraÔÇÖs speed on the court was proving effective, drawing a couple of fouls and scoring a field goal on a down-court breakaway.
The second quarter was a tense one, and although Cardiff were defending well man-to-man, Swansea still held a narrow lead. That was until Ioan Nickson turned the screw, scoring heavily in traffic and pitching in from the free throw line, as well as putting in a big steal against the run of play. Cardiff took control and regained the lead midway through the half, taking it to 29-26. Anthony Olowo then drew a foul after making an intricate basket, setting up a free-throw to complete a three-point play.┬á Cardiff ended the half ahead, despite some big three-pointers from SwanseaÔÇÖs Winnett.
Swansea began the third quarter better than they had finished the second; they regained the lead before Nickson once again began sinking some free throws, and driving his rebound down-court for a two pointer.
Cardiff continued in the same vein and regained a steady lead with a couple of sweet two-pointers from Dreck, Bauer and Orusara, giving Cardiff a comfortable lead of 53-41 going into the fourth quarter.  A win for Cardiff was most definitely on the cards.
Swansea crawled their way back into the game with six unanswered points early on in the fourth; Cardiff responded with some meticulous interplay and Czura produced an incredible crossover to take the game to 55-47.
Dreck was really finding his footing in the fourth quarter and began scoring heavily.┬á Ioan Nickson retired to the bench to chants of ÔÇÿ”MVP, MVP, MVP” from the crowd. Cardiff closed out the game 76-60, giving them their sixth victory and ending SwanseaÔÇÖs undefeated season.
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