The CIS No. 8 StFX X-Men defeated the Acadia Axemen 82-75 Saturday night in AUS basketball action in Antigonish, N.S. Tyrell Vernon paced the blue and white, racking up 24 points in the victory.

Vernon also contributed three assists, two steals and five rebounds, while Jordan Clarke and Terry Thomas provided secondary scoring in the StFX victory, connecting for 14 and 13 points respectively. Thomas had a double-double game adding 11 rebounds and also had five steals on the night. Jeremy Dunn posted 10 points and five rebounds for the blue and white.

Anthony Sears and Anthony Ashe paced the Axemen offense, as Sears rained In 22 points and seven rebounds, and Ashe connected on five three-pointers for his 21 points. Owen Klassen and Jonathan Tull each scored ten points apiece with Klassen pulling down nine boards for the Axemen.

The X-Men shot 40.3% from field goal range, 29.4% percent from three point range and 83.3% percent from the free throw line, while the Axemen were 38.7% from field goal range, 43.3% from three point range and 52.4% from the free throw line.

The Axemen were able to come out on top in the first half, outscoring the X-Men 37-33. After the second half however, the X-Men were able to take control of the game, as they outscored the Axemen 54-45 in the last half. 

With the win the X-Men move ahead of Acadia into second place in the conference with 28 points. StFX continues play on Sunday against the first place UPEI Panthers at 4:00 pm at the StFX Oland Centre in another important four point game. The Axemen travel to Cape Breton to take on the Capers on Sunday.