Panthers come back to top Axemen to open weekend

The Acadia University men's basketball team lost 68-60 to the University of Prince Edward Island Panthers on Friday at Stu Aberdeen Court.

Glen Cox led the Axemen with 19 points, shooting 9-for-15 from the field, while Donovan Reid added 13 points, including 6-of-9 shooting, and grabbed 6 rebounds. Gabe Davignon also contributed with 13 points, including three 3-pointers, and tallied eight assists. Kyle Munro recorded nine points, three steals, and a team-high nine assists.

UPEI was led by Kyree Thompson, who scored 10 points and had five field goals, while Kamari Scott added 15 points and two steals. Daniel Gonzalez Longarela made a major impact with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Sam Dyck chipped in 12 points, shooting 5-for-6.

Acadia started strong, taking a 13-7 lead into halftime. Cox and Reid played key roles, while Davignon's 3-pointer helped keep UPEI at bay. Despite some turnovers, Acadia's defense limited UPEI to just nine points in the opening half.

The second half saw Acadia briefly extend its lead, with a 3-pointer from Munro and strong inside play from Cox. The Axemen held a 17-point lead at one point, but UPEI mounted a strong comeback, outscoring Acadia 34-9 in the fourth quarter. A late 3-pointer from Kyree Thompson and key plays from Sam Dyck helped UPEI take control. Acadia struggled with turnovers and missed opportunities, including missed free throws from Reid, allowing UPEI to close the gap and secure the win.

The two teams will meet again on Saturday at 4 p.m. in Wolfville.