Axemen fall short in making the post-season on 72-70 loss to UNB

FREDERICTON, NB - Chris Spurrell (Quispamsis, NB) sunk a baseline jump-shot with 0.9 seconds left as the UNB Reds ended their regular season with a thrilling 72-70 win over the Acadia Axemen on Saturday night. 

The Reds finish the season with a 13-7 record, while the Axemen finish 6-14. 

With the win, the Reds secure second place in the Atlantic University Sport standings and a first-round bye in next weekend's Subway AUS Championships, in Halifax. It also knocks Acadia out of the playoffs. 

The Reds were chasing the Axemen for the first three quarters after a slow start before drawing even and then stealing the game in dramatic fashion. 

"Every team is good in this league, anyone can win on any given night, you have to give Acadia credit, they are fighting for their playoff lives along with three other teams, and they very easily could have won this game," said Reds small forward Will Legere (Amherst, NS). 

Legere was named Subway Player of the Game with a game-high 25 points and nine rebounds. 

The Axemen got the jump on the Reds, leading 21-15 after the first quarter. 

UNB would respond in the second, trailing by just two points, 35-33, heading into halftime. 

The Reds would continue to keep pace, but still trail Acadia 56-51 after the third quarter. 

The Reds came alive in the fourth, going on a 12-0 run to take the lead. The Axemen stayed pesky, tying the game in the final minute before the Reds executed a great set play which Spurrell finished off to take the win. 

"The play basically was just our usual Utah play… catch, drive baseline, if its there shoot it, if its not hit the weakside guy in the corner," said Spurrell. 

Daniel Pitcher (Sydney, AUS) had 13 points and eight rebounds, while Ibrahima Doumbouya (Calgary, AB) had 12 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. 

Nick De Palma (Bedford, NS) led the Axemen with 23 points and three rebounds while Rowan Power (Dartmouth, NS) had 19 points and six rebounds.  

The Reds will now face the winner of Friday's AUS quarter-final between Dalhousie and Memorial. 

That semi-final matchup is scheduled for 8:30pm, Saturday, at the Scotiabank Centre, in Halifax. 

RECAP BY: Jonathon James/for UNB Athletics 

PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics