X-Men hold on against Axemen to take top spot in AUS

ANTIGONISH – The STFX X-Men garnered an 87-80 victory over the visiting Acadia Axemen Wednesday night on Coach K Court at the STFX Saputo Centre. 

The squads traded basket for basket throughout the first quarter as the visiting Axemen held a one-point lead, 24-23 after the opening 10 minutes of play. Miguel Perez Boskovic (Santa Cruz de Tenerife) netted seven points for Acadia and Kyle Munro (Halifax, NS) had six both on a pair of three-pointers. 

Dondre Reddick (Antigonish, NS) and Koat Thomas (Waterloo, ON) each scored seven points for the X-Men in the opening quarter. 

The X-Men went on a 10-0 run to start the second quarter as they held the Axemen scoreless in the opening five minutes of play. Acadia quickly got back into the game, thanks to a pair of timely three-pointers late in the quarter from Munro. He scored 15 in the opening half – all from three-point range – as the Axemen trailed 43-42 at halftime. 

Glen Cox (Scotsburn, NS) added 12 points for Acadia in the first half while Reddick was the top scorer for X with 15 points, including a trio of three-pointers.  

The teams continued to trade baskets throughout the third quarter, another Munro three midway through gave the Axemen a 53-50 lead, but minutes later Reddick answered with a three of his own to put the X-Men up 57-55. They pulled ahead by seven points with just over a minute to play and closed out the quarter with a 68-60 lead. 

The Axemen chipped away at the X lead in the fourth quarter and Munro sunk another three midway through the frame to tie the game at 73 points apiece. 

The home squad pulled away and a three from Bennett Grumbach (Toronto, ON) with two and half minutes left in the game gave the X-Men an 82-76 advantage. The Axemen pressed late but couldn't overcome the deficit as the X-Men held on for the win. 

Reddick finished with a game-high 31 points and had 10 rebounds for a double-double game as he picked up player of the game honours. Thomas also had a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Grumbach contributed 14 points and Gatluak James (Windsor, ON) scored 11 off the X bench. 

For the Axemen, Munro was the high scorer with 23 points, including seven three-pointers. Cox scored 20, while Perez Boskovic netted 18 off the bench and added seven rebounds. 

The X-Men outrebounded the Axemen 43-33 in the match. 

With the win, STFX improves to 10-6 on the season, moving into sole possession of first place in the AUS standings. The Axemen drop to 7-9 and are tied for fifth spot in a tight race for playoff positions.  

The X-Men are back in action on Coach K Court on Saturday night when they host Cape Breton (7-9) in an 8:00 pm game. The Axemen have the weekend off and will travel to Halifax on Thursday to take on Saint Mary's (9-6). 

Recap courtesy Krista McKenna, STFX Athletics