CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. - Without three key players, the Axemen basketball team swept their season opening weekend series at UPEI as they topped the Panthers 81-76 on Friday night and 86-85 in the second match-up between both teams.
Missing All-Canadian Owen Klassen along with the touch of AUS All-Star Anthony Sears plus second year post Rhys Larry, the Axemen pulled off two convincing wins to remain undefeated after the opening weekend.
Baur was happy with the weekend result of a team effort to overcome the injury adversity. "It was a big opportunity for a lot of our younger guys who rallied around the environment. We defended well but have to take better care of the ball tomorrow".
In the first of two weekend night games, sophmore Kyle Arsenault stepped in to pull down 13 rebounds and add 13 points - his first double-double of his young career, while teammate Shaquille Smith added a game high 21 points as the Axemen handed Panthers a home opener loss.
Senior forwards Anthony Ashe and Lauchlan Gale added 17 points and 15 points respectively.
Both teams posted dismal field goal percentages with the Axemen hanging on to 41% from the floor compared to the Panthers' 33.7%, but Acadia was 40% from the distant arc including 60% from three point territory. Ashe was the hot hand with three of six from the three point line.
In game two of the two game weekend against UPEI, the Axemen trailed for the entire game including a 45-37 halftime score and 63-59 after three frames. The Panthers had the largest lead of the game, by 13, at 5:29 in the second.
With 1:20 remaining in the game, Acadia pulled out to an 83-79 lead and held onto the advantage into the closing seconds of the game before UPEI closed the gap to one.
The lead only changed twice in the game and that was in the closing quarter. The Axemen had 28 turnovers compared to UPEI's 19, yet 24 Acadia points were accounted for by turnovers by the Panthers.
Anthony Ashe scored a game high 20 points while Shaquille Smith scored double digits for a second game in a row with 16. Anthony Sears dressed for this game, after missing the first game on Friday against UPEI. Sears was 6-9 from the floor and was perfect from the distant arc and free throw line for 15 points.
Former local stars and Horton Alum, Ellis Ffrench and Lorezo Parker accounted for 10 and 11 points respectively. Donathan Moss netted a team high 16 points.
The Axemen completed the opening weekend of the AUS basketball season with a 2-0 recorded while the Panthers will have an uphill climb starting at 0-2. Acadia hosts the 0-2 Dalhousie Tigers while UPEI heads to UNB to take on the undefeated UNB Varsity Reds next Friday and Saturday.