SYDNEY – Led by a sensational 45-point performance from conference-leading scorer Glen Cox (Scotsburn, NS), the visiting Acadia Axemen (5-6) scored a convincing 107-84 victory over the Cape Breton University (CBU) Capers (6-5) in Atlantic University Sport (AUS) basketball action on Saturday evening at Sullivan Fieldhouse.
In a see-saw first quarter, junior forward Mitchell Mersereau (Sydney, NS) canned four points to give the hometown Capers an early 7-5 edge.
Midway through the opening stanza, the sides were knotted 11-11.
After a four-point play from Gabe Davignon (White's Lake, NS), the visitors led 15-13.
The Axemen finished the first quarter on an 8-1 run sparked by another Davignon shot from downtown and drives to the basket from Cox to take a 25-19 lead.
Early in the second quarter, Acadia jumped to a double-digit lead – at 35-25 – but CBU answered, cutting the deficit to 38-31 on a sensational midcourt alley-oop pass from Shakael Pryce (Ajax, ON) to Stefan Anisko (Caledonia, ON) who soared for an acrobatic lay-in.
Ignited by a 9-0 spurt in the final couple of minutes in the first half, which included more great offensive play from Cox and Davignon, the Axemen took a 17-point lead at 56-39.
The Capers scored the final four points of the second quarter, which trimmed the Axemen advantage to 56-43 at halftime.
In the third quarter, Acadia opened with a 17-6 run to lead 73-49.
CBU answered with a 6-0 spurt, but Cox and Davignon answered with back-to-back three-pointers to give the Axemen a 26-point lead at 81-55.
Keyed by Tyson Cato (Hamilton, ON) on the inside, along with a steal and three-pointer from Aaron Cunningham (Orangeville, ON), the Capers made a 12-1 run in the final couple of minutes in the third stanza to make it 82-67.
Late in the shot clock – and in the final seconds of the quarter – Davignon nailed a back-breaking shot from beyond the arc to restore the 18-point Acadia edge.
With the opening points of the fourth quarter, a three-pointer by Mersereau, the Capers made it 85-70. But, despite a couple of bursts, they could get no closer and the Axemen cruised to victory.
Along with his 45 points, Cox added 11 rebounds for a double-double; not to mention five assists. Davignon also contributed five assists, along with 23 points, including a six-for-10 effort from beyond the arc. Ryan Munro (Timberlea, NS) also hit double figures with 11 points.
For the Capers, Cato finished with 27 points and nine rebounds, while Mersereau added 18. Pryce fashioned a triple-double with 15 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
The teams will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 13, with the Capers travelling to Charlottetown to face the UPEI Panthers, while the Axemen will host the STFX X-Men in Wolfville.
Tip-off for both match-ups is 8 p.m.