WOLFVILLE, N.S. - Two evenly-matched teams came into this game looking to improve on their record before the December break.
The first quarter set the stage for this close matchup and saw the X-Men lead by only one point into the intermission - 22-21
The second quarter saw both teams start to fall into their respective playing styles. Acadia managed to make 9 of their 18 attempted threes but shot only 12 of 38 as a whole from the field. The opposite was true for the X-Men, who shot 18 of 43 from the field but only made 3 of 14 of their threes.
With the X-Men ahead 45-41 at the half, the tides slowly started to turn on the Axemen in the third quarter, who no longer merely trailed a few points. Down 71-59 going into the last frame, the Axemen struggled to shrink the StFX lead.
X-Men forward Azaro Roker (Nassau, Bahamas) lead the attack in the second half of the game, intimidating the Axemen with massive dunks and fierce blocks. Standing 6'6", Roker was a force to be reckoned with against any defender that tried to stop him. Roker would finish with 14 points, 14 rebounds, and 4 blocks
The X-Men grabbed the four-point game 89-75 and improved to 3-3.
X-Man Daniel Passley (Mississauga, Ont) posted 21 points, 15 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals. For his impressive double-double, Passley was named the Subway Player of the Game. Teammate Thomas Legallais recorded 16 points including 2 for 5 from the three-point line.
Nick De Palma (Bedford, N.S.) was a constant for the Axemen in the loss, recording a team high 16 points and was four for six from the distant arc. De Palma was named Acadia's Player of the Game. Junior Moaka-Matia and Rowan Powers added 13 points each.
The Axemen resume their season on January 5th when they host Dalhousie.
The X-Men play 3 games in late December when they participate in the Dalhousie Rod Shoveller Tournament starting on the 28th.
Submitted by Theodore Giesen, Acadia Athletics Communications Office