The Saint Mary’s Huskies knocked off the CIS ranked No. 3 StX X-Men 87-79 Friday night at the StFX Oland Centre in the final AUS regular season game.

The loss was only the second of the season for the X-Men and cost them first place overall in the AUS standings. StFX wraps up with an 18-2 record and 48 points, two back of first place Cape Breton (18-2). Regardless, the X-Men earn a bye into the AUS semi-finals next weekend at the championship tournament at Centre 200 in Sydney, NS.

On Friday night Joey Haywood and Mark McLaughlin led the Huskies attack as they were 12 for 26 from three-point range, with 7 of the extra buckets coming from McLaughlin. He tallied 26 total points and 8 rebounds while Haywood had 28 points and 9 assists.

Replying for the X-Men was T-Bear Upshaw and Charlie Spurr who each scored 16 points a piece. Spurr was 4 for 7 from three-point range. Jeremy Dunn scored 15 points and had 8 rebounds for the X-Men while Chad Warren scored 10.

The Huskies opened the game with a 21-17 first quarter lead, going on a 10-0 run late in the quarter. The X-Men came back in the second quarter as both teams exchanged a flurry of three-pointers and the game was tied at 41-41 at half-time.

The third quarter remained close and the two squads were 61-61 after 30 minutes, but it was missed opportunities in the game that caught up with the X-Men in the fourth quarter as the Huskies pulled ahead for the win.

The Huskies close out the season with a 14-6 record in third place, behind the Capers and X-Men. Dalhousie (12-8) were fourth followed by Acadia (9-11) and UPEI (4-16).

UPEI and Saint Mary’s will meet in the AUS quarterfinals on Friday night in Sydney, while Acadia takes on Dalhousie in the other quarterfinal game. The winners advance to meet the Capers and X-Men on Saturday evening.

StFX Sports Information