Axemen let halftime lead slip away vs. Reds, UNB sweeps weekend series

(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS scored 22 points in the fourth quarter to rally past the Acadia Axemen 69-61, on Saturday afternoon. 

The win completes UNB's weekend sweep of the Axemen. 

"It feels good to get two wins," said REDS' forward Tyrell Leotaud (Ajax, ON). "We just executed the game plan and Chris had a big two games for us and everyone else just did their part, knocking down some shots." 

Leotaud scored 12 points and was named the Subway Player of the Game. 

"Defensively, we stepped up and down the stretch we made the right plays, the right decisions," he said. "One step at a time, we're getting better." 

In a back and forth first quarter, Eli Kraushar (Halifax, NS) scored seven points as the Axemen went ahead 18-17. 

In the second quarter, Rees Hasson (Fredericton, NB) came off the UNB bench and scored five points and Ibrahima Doumbouya struck from three-point territory to push the REDS ahead 31-26 and force an Acadia time-out. 

The Axemen led 37-33 at the break. 

In the third, the teams continued their toe-to-toe fight, trading baskets, and the lead. 

A late three-point shot from Chris Spurrell (Quispamsis, NB) kept the REDS close and Acadia emerged from the quarter up by a single point, 48-47. 

Down 59-57 and with less than 4:00 to play, Norm Burry (Grafton, NB) hit a three-point shot to give UNB a 60-59 lead. On the next trip down the court, Burry drew a foul and hit both free throws, pushing the REDS lead to 62-59. 

Leotaud added a three-pointer to extend the lead to 65-59. 

The Axemen would push back, but the REDS held them off and won 69-61. 

"They had a plan of what they wanted to get to in the last five minutes of the game and they executed it, where we didn't have as much of a plan or specific set or look, and they ended up executing better than us and it showed on the scoreboard," said Axemen forward Rowan Power (Dartmouth, NS). "We led through three-quarters last night and were unable to get the job done. A similar story today led through three quarters and, again, it came down to execution in the fourth quarter and they had the upper hand." 

Power was among the Acadia leaders, with 13 points, while Kraushar dropped 14. 

Ryan Munro (Timberlea, NS) came off the bench to score 12 for the Axemen. 

Spurrell led all scorers with 22 for UNB, while Sterling Simpson came off the REDS bench to score nine points and grab six rebounds. 

With the win, UNB is now 3-and-3. Acadia falls to 1-and-5. 

The Axemen next see action Friday, when they host UPEI for an 8:00 pm start. 

The REDS host Memorial, in the first of two-weekend games against the Sea-Hawks, on Saturday. That game is scheduled to start at 8:00pm. 

RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics 

PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics