Axemen rebound with win over UNB, spitting weekend match-up

(FREDERICTON, NB) The Acadia Axemen salvaged a weekend split with UNB, beating the Reds 68-61 on Saturday.  

After a strong start, the Reds faltered and couldn't find their way back. 

Marcus Upshaw (Burlington, ON) was one of three Axemen who scored 12 points for his team. He was named the Subway Player of the Game.  

"We've been trying to piece together two halves of basketball, and today I think we did that," said Upshaw, "We don't have a main scorer, or a go to guy. Every day is someone new, whoever is playing well that day gets the shots."  

Rowan Power (Dartmouth, NS) and Jacques Lukusa (Ottawa, ON) also had 12 each for Acadia, while UNB's Chris Spurrell (Quispamsis, NB) led all scorers with 15. Derian Valdes (Calgary, AB) scored 11 off the bench for the Reds. 

The Reds pulled ahead with a 23-15 first quarter lead. 

In the second, Upshaw helped to close the gap for the Axemen, forcing the Reds to take two time-outs.  

"You've got to deserve victory, and we didn't tonight," said UNB head coach Brent Baker. "Full credit to Acadia, they won every hustle play, and every ball that they wanted to get. They were the better team tonight and that's the bottom line."  

At the half, the Axemen were up 40-34.  

Spurrell opened the third quarter with a big three-point shot.  

Mid-way through the third, the Reds tried to reclaim the game, but the Axemen had the upper hand, with shooting percentages almost doubling those of the Reds.  

Going into the fourth, it was 58-46 for the Axemen.  

Back-to-back threes by Valdes showed life for UNB, but the Axemen did enough to close out the game, and take the 68-61 win. 

"You're going to produce what you practice. If you don't practice well and hard and worthy of success, that's the result you're going to get. That's the result we got tonight," said Baker. 

The Reds and the Axemen are both now 2-and-2 in the Atlantic University Sport standings. 

The Reds see their next action on Friday, at Cape Breton, while Acadia visits Memorial on Saturday and Sunday. 

RECAP BY: Brianna McQuillan/for UNB Athletics 

PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics