WOLFVILLE, N.S. - The Axemen and the Reds had almost identical team stats coming out of the first quarter, but the Axemen had a slight edge on the scoreboard with a 23-22 lead.
The Reds had a hot start to the second quarter with several made threes and multiple offensive rebounds from Ibrahima Doumbouya (Calgary, Alta.). The Axemen had a slow quarter offensively with only 12 points and shooting 1-8 (12.5%) from three.
Entering halftime, the Reds held a 47-35 point lead. Doumbouya had 17 points and 11 rebounds at the half, leading all players in both categories. Doumbouya finished the game with 17 points, an incredible 20 rebounds, and was named the Subway Player of the Game for his effort.
Acadia's Forest Mahoney (Beachburg, Ont.) added three blocks to his conference-leading blocks of 32 in the second quarter.
Mahoney led the AUS in shots blocked coming into the game with a total of 28 on the season. He would finish the game with four blocks, 15 points, and six rebounds and was his team's player of the game.
The Axemen continued to miss three-pointers in the third quarter, dropping to 1-12 (8.3%). The Reds were not shooting terrifically either with only five made threes on 18 attempts (27.8%) but their hard work on the offensive glass gave them the advantage.
The Reds improved to 69-52 after the end of the third.
UNB committed four quick fouls within the first two minutes of the fourth quarter, forcing them to play less aggressively for the remainder of the game. Despite their foul trouble, the Reds were able to shut down the Axemen on defence.
The Reds easily won this game 91-68 and improve to 8-5 and remain in second place. The Axemen drop to 5-8 and hold on to the last playoff position going into the last seven games of the regular season.
Axeman Marcus Upshaw led the Axemen with 19 points, while UNB's Sterling Simpson led the Reds with 19 points.
The two teams will meet again on Saturday night in the Acadia Athletics Bell Lets Talk Game.
Provided by Theodore Giesen, Acadia Athletics Communications
Photos by Peter Oleskevich