WOLFVILLE, N.S. - The Acadia Axemen (2-5) opened the new year at home against the StFX X-men (3-5) Saturday night at the War Memorial Gymnasiu. This would be the third time both teams have met this season with the results of the previous encounters ending in a win for each squad by five points. The X-Men led 4-2 in the opening minutes of the first quarter and would not capture the lead again as the Axemen grabbed a convincing 77-67 win in front of 817 boisterous fans.
Rookie guard Ben Miller had eight points in the first frame as Acadia led by as many as eight. StFX would close the margin to within five, 22-17 entering the second. The Axemen could not hold a substantial lead, as StFX refused to give in, giving Acadia a 39-32 lead at the intermission.
After halftime both teams went cold with Subway Player of the Game for the X-men, Julius Antoine recording the first field goal with 7:47 left in the third quarter. Acadia would go on a 14-4 run midway through the third and pushed out to a 58-48 lead heading into the final frame.
StFX trailed by three with three minutes remaining in the game following a layup by second year guard Jordan Tyrell but Acadia's third year guard Sean Stoqua would drill a three the next trip down the court and drain the energy from the X-men. Acadia posted the largest lead of the night of 14 points with over 10 minutes remaining i the fourth quarter and finished with a convincing 77-67 win
Antoine netted 28 points in the loss to earn the Subway Player of the Game, while teammates Alastair Cole and Tyrell chipped in ten point a piece in the defeat.
The Axemen were led in scoring by Kyle Arsenault who had 23 points. Ben Miller added 11 while Subway Player of the Game Rhys Larry had 12 points and 13 rebounds on 5-7 shooting from the field.
StFX heads to Halifax to face Dalhousie this Tuesday in a four-point matchup, while Acadia travels to St Mary's on Tuesday before heading to Cape Breton for a weekend matchup on Saturday in a four point game against the Capers. Acadia improves to 3-5 with the win over the 3-6 X-Men.
Submitted by Ashley Hasler, Acadia Sports Information