WOLFVILLE, N.S. - Ranked dead last in the preseason AUS coaches poll, the Acadia Axemen enter the Holiday Break in a first place tie with UPEI and Dalhousie at 5-2.
The Axemen swept the CIS No. 8 ranked UPEI Panthers by capping the two game home stand with a 110-107 win. The Panthers, who were undefeated prior to the weekend, were led by former Axemen Tyler Scott (Halifax, N.S.) who posted a game high 38 points in the Panther loss.
Second year perimeter marksman Nick De Palma (Bedford, N.S.) collected the Subway Player of the Game honours for not only his 13 point performance in today's win but his contribution throughout the weekend's two wins against UPEI.
The game was an even matchup with the lead changing hands 16 times and 10 ties in 40 minutes of regulation time.
Taking a 17-10 lead in the first four minutes of the game, the Panthers struggled to maintain the lead in the closing minutes of the opening frame. Tied at 25 after an AJ Simmonds (Dartmouth, N.S.) three point basketball, the Axemen completed the first quarter with a 36-31 lead off of a Kyle Arseneault (Fredericton, N.B.) three point jumper.
The Panthers opened the second half with a 10-2 run that put them ahead 41-40 with six and a half minutes remaining in the third quarter. With the third frame tied four times in the remaining four minutes, UPEI closed the quarter with a 54-53 lead.
With just over five minutes remaining in the third quarter and the Panthers up 61-60, Arseneault sank a timely three point shot to give Acadia a 63-16 lead.
Holding onto the lead into the 1:12 mark of the third, Panther Dut Dut (Ottawa, Ont.) scored an easy back door layup to give UPEI a 73-72 advantage. Axeman Thomas Johnson (Midland, Ont.) roped in a long three pointer to give Acadia the lead back. Johnson's free throws that followed with 38 seconds remaining and AJ Simmonds three pointer in the closing seconds gave Acadia an 80-75 third quarter lead.
The fourth quarter was all Acadia, with the Axemen maintaining a lead throughout. Ahead by 10 with two minutes remaining in the game, the Panthers went to work on closing the lead. Lorezno Parker's (New Minas, N.S.) layup with 15 seconds left on the clock, the margin was narrowed to 108-107. Ben Miller's (Winnipeg, Man.) two made free throws with 15 seconds left solidified the win over UPEI.
"We are happy with the overall team effort this weekend, two solid wins against a very good UPEI team. We are scoring the ball at a high rate right now and we have to pair that up with a few more stops on the defensive end", commented head coach Kevin Duffie.
Adding, "We have had great contribution from a variety of guys with a different guy seemingly doing it on any given night."
Points came from all angles for the Axemen with all the starters scoring in double digit territory. Kyle Arseneault and Ben Miller each posted 20 points, while Erik Nissen (Quispamsis, N.B.) added 16 points including 11 rebounds - nine in the defensive end. Miller was stellar with 10 rebounds and only one turnover in his guard duties. Local Horton High School grad and first year guard Mitchell Tempro (Three Miles Plains, N.S.) and Thomas Johnson each had nine points off the bench. AJ Simmonds added eight points that included two timely three point baskets.
Scott led the Panthers with 38 and Brad States added 22 points and 10 rebounds. Dut Dut led UPEI with 13 rebounds and posted 8 points. Another Horton High School grad, Lorenzo Parker, had 13 points off the bench.
The Axemen head into the break with a 5-2 record and will be busy with two holiday tournaments including the Winnipeg Wesmen tournament in late December and the Dalhousie Rod Shovellor tournament from January 1-3.