V-Reds physical game draws 96-86 win over Axemen

WOLFVILLE, N.S. - The Acadia Axemen basketball team snapped UNB's 4-0 start to the season with a Friday night win against the Varsity Reds, but Saturday's second of a two-game weekend resulted in a 96-86 UNB win led by rookie guard Javon Masters.

Masters had his second most impressive point total of the season with 42 points on 11 of 18 from the field and 4-6 beyond the arc. Masters also converted 16 of 19 free throw attempts and collected five rebounds. Acadia found no way to contain him throughout the game. Matthew Daley also contributed 23 points for UNB.

Anthony Ashe started off strong for the Axemen, netting 14 of his 16 first half points, but UNB held onto a lead after first quarter and the entire game.

The Varsity Reds pulled ahead by as many as 21 points with six minutes remaining in the third quarter, but Acadia's Player of the Game AJ Simmonds spearheaded a 17-4 run that closed the gap to 74-69 30 seconds into the final frame.

Acadia applied the pressure in the final frame and closed to within five but costly fouls resulting in an early bonus situation for UNB made the deficit difficult to overcome.  The distant perimeter game played well for the Varsity Reds, accounting for 30 points compared to Acadia's 18 points from the distant arc.

Owen Klassen, who the Varsity Reds tried to physically remove from the scoreboard, accounted for 24 points, 16 of which were from the charity strip. AJ Simmonds and Anthony Ashe added 16 points each while Kyle Arseneault posted 12.

UNB gathered 23 points off of turnovers along with 16 points from the bench, while the Axemen had 22 points off of second chances compared to UNB's six.

Acadia hosts division rivals Saint F.X. next Thursday night at home for the final home game before the Holiday Break, while UNB hosts Saint Mary's next Saturday.

Submitted by Ashley Hasler  - Acadia Sports Information Office