Axemen advance to semifinals with 69-68 win over CBU

(HALIFAX, NS) – The third-seeded Acadia Axemen took down the sixth-seeded Cape Breton Capers in the second men's quarterfinal of the 2016 Subway AUS Men's Basketball Championship on Friday night at the Scotiabank Centre.

Neither team was able to establish themselves in the first half as they combined for 15 turnovers and shot 18-74 from the field (4-27 from downtown).
Reigning AUS defensive player of the year, Meshack Lufile of the Capers, made his presence felt around the rim with two emphatic blocks in the first quarter.

At the end of the first half the Capers led 28-21 on Cedric Kasongo's nine points and nine rebounds in 15 minutes of action.

The Axemen were led in scoring by Nick De Palma with nine points, five rebounds and three triples in 13 minutes on the floor.

The game continued to be a close scoring, back-and-forth affair throughout the third quarter with Acadia starting to heat up from three (4-7 in the third).
At the end of three, the Capers took a 46-40 lead into the final frame.

Acadia took their hot third quarter shooting into the fourth, led by sophomore guard Ben Miller.

Miller scored 16 of his team-high 19 points in the final frame, shooting 5-9 from the floor and 4-5 from downtown, helping the Axemen rally to tie the game with under a minute remaining.

Following an Acadia defensive stop, Shaquille Smith was sent to the free throw line with 20 seconds remaining and the game tied at 68, where he was able to convert 1-2.

Smith's free throw ended up being the game-winning point as Cape Breton was unable to score at the other end.

Axemen head coach Kevin Duffie was asked what was spoken during the time-out called by the Capers after Smith's free throw. "Be carefull that they will try to get a quick two with Kasongo inside", recalled Duffie. "They tried to get something quick inside one on one with Kasongo and it basically came down to one rebound."

"That has been our team this season. Just a grinding team that doesn't get flustered", commented Duffie. |No one points fingers and just keep on playing and i think that was us again tonight."

Cedric Kasongo (20 points, 18 rebounds, three assists) and Ben Miller (19 points, four assists, two rebounds and five triples) were named the Subway players of the game.

The Axemen move on to face the UPEI Panthers Saturday evening in the second men's semi-final matchup at 8:30 p.m. at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax.