Axemen fail to grab win in Newfoundland

ST. JOHN'S, NL - The host Sea-Hawks gained their first win of the season, defeating the Acadia Axemen 88-76 in the first of a two-game weekend.   

Acadia came out very strong from deep (6/14). Memorial was also strong from behind the arc (5/7), but they took longer to awaken on offense as Acadia jumped out to a 21-11 advantage.  

Emmanuel Ring was the leader on offense through the first half, energizing the crowd with a steal and slam halfway through the second quarter, posting 15 points at the break. Daniel Foo also chipped in with 10 points. Nick Tuff provided a solid spark off the bench with 4 points, and plenty of defensive stops. 

Axeman Nick De Palma continued his strong shooting performance, leading Acadia at the half with 12 points. After two quarters, Memorial was able to make a comeback and open up their lead, 46-39. Ben Miller followed De Palma's lead, posting similar first half stats, with 11 points on 3/5 shooting from deep. 

Memorial pressed on the gas in the second half, pushing their lead in to the double-digits. Each of the five starters contributed in the third. Daniel Foo was a standout performer for the rest of the game.  

Acadia seemed to live and ultimately die by the outside shot, shooting 37%. Three of Acadia's five starters posted double-digits. Nick De Palma led the Axemen with 21 on the night. 

Memorial (2-3) closed out the Acadia Axemen (1-5) in the weekend series concluding with a 74-59 win. 

The first half was a grind for both teams. Acadia was struggling to hit consistent shots, a stark contrast to the previous game. Both teams had difficulty scoring, but Memorial was converting more often at 30% from the field. 

Memorial managed to extend their lead to double-digits leading 34-24 at half. Nathan Barker had a more characteristic performance compared to the previous evening matchup, leading the Hawks with 10 points at the break. Boris Ristanovic was the big man of the half, with a dependable 7 points and 5 rebounds. 

Acadia's offensive woes continued through the second half. They had small runs at the end of the third and fourth quarter, but were unable to significantly close the gap. They ended the game shooting 16% from deep, and under 30% from the field.  

Memorial did not scorch the box score, but they were rewarded for their hustle by getting to the free throw line, shooting 95% for the game. Four of the five starters posted double digits in points (Thompson, Barker, Ristanovic, Foo).  

Ristanovic earned Subway Player of the Game commendations. Nathan Barker returned to form, contributing 25 points. 

Memorial takes this weekend series with two wins. They head to CBU next weekend, in a series of four-point games. The Axemen return home to host StFX on Saturday.