Axemen winning streak ends at three after loss to UNB

WOLFVILLE, N.S. – The Basketball Axemen's three-game winning streak of 2019 came to an abrupt end with a 79-64 loss to visiting UNB on Friday night.

Tied at 14-14 after one quarter, the Axemen lost their footing in the second, only putting up 8 points, while the Reds netted 24, lead by Ibrahima Doumbouya (Calgary, Alta.). Doumbouya shot a perfect 4-4 from three and added another bucket to give him 14 in the half.

The Reds shot very well from behind the arc all game, as Tyrell Leotaud (Toronto, Ont.) put up a perfect 3-3 on the game, finished with 19 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists. He helped secure the Reds their win and was named a Subway Player of the Game.

Ahead 38-22, the Reds continued to quickly respond after every Acadia basket, giving the hometown Axemen no chance at closing the gap. With the lead staying near 20 points for the most of the third quarter, there was nothing the Axemen could do to inch their way back.

Up 64-45 after 3 quarters, three UNB players had triple digits by the start of the fourth quarter, while nobody had broken that threshold for the Axemen.

Chris Spurrell (Quispamsis, N.B.) was another influential player for the Reds, who recorded 19 points and 5 rebounds.

The Axemen closed the margin by a few points in the fourth, but it was not nearly enough to make a difference. If not for a poor showing in the second quarter, the Axemen would have been in this one throughout.

Trevon Grant posted a team-high 12 points, while Ben Miller led the Axemen with eight rebounds. Off the bench, Temitayo Shittu added 8 points.

UNB has their second game of the weekend on Saturday when they visit Saint Mary's.

The Axemen hope to recover from this loss on a trip to Cape Breton on Sunday.

Submitted by Theodore Giesen, Acadia Athletics Communications Office