Antigonish, NS – The MSVU Mystics shocked the StFX X-Men with an 83-62 victory at the 37th annual X-Men Basketball Pizza Delight Invitational tournament Friday night in semifinal action.
With the win the Mystics advance to the tournament championship game Saturday evening at 8:00 pm versus the Dalhousie Tigers. The X-Men will meet the Saint Mary's Huskies in the consolation final at 6:00 pm. The Tigers defeated the Huskies 102-100 in overtime in the first semifinal game.
After playing a close first half with the Mystics holding a 49-47 halftime edge over the X-Men, they broke the game open in the third quarter, outscoring the blue and white by a 17-7 margin.
MSVU were hot from three-point range throughout the evening, scoring 48 of their 83 points from beyond the arc (16-31). Player of the game Derek Norris (Tantallon, NS) and Emad Khalek (Truro, NS) each sank six three-points buckets apiece.
Norris tallied 28 points on the night for the Mystics, who outhustled the X-Men in the second half en route to the win. He also had five rebounds, six assists and two steals. Khalek scored 24 points and had had five boards.
Kai Krahsuar (Halifax, NS) contributed 17 points for MSVU and David Boulay (Moncton, NB) added 10.
Replying for the X-Men was Cameron Walker (Dallas, TX) with 12 points and 11 rebounds, along with Tyrel Edwards (Toronto, ON) who scored 12. Tristen Ross (Truro, NS) also added 12 points, all from three-point range.
Tigers edge Huskies in overtime
Antigonish, NS – In the first semifinal game at the 37th annual X-Men Basketball Pizza Delight Invitational tournament, the Dalhousie Tigers edged the Saint Mary's Huskies 102-100 in overtime.
The Tigers held a 12 point lead midway through the fourth quarter but the Huskies fought their way back into the game and tied it 88-88 at the end of regulation to force the overtime period. Cedric Sanogo (Montreal, QC) had a chance to win it for the Tigers with eight second left on the clock but his jumper didn't fall.
The five minute extra frame was close and the Huskies went up 100-96 with a minute and half to play but saw their lead erased as the Tigers came back with consecutive jumpers by player of the game Kevin Duong (Montreal, QC) and good defense down the stretch.
Duong finished the game with 20 points, along with four rebounds and a pair of assists. Sanogo scored a team-high 21 points and had four rebounds, three assists and a steal.
Jordan Aquino-Serjue (Montreal, QC) scored 18and had three boards, while Sven Stammberger (Halifax, NS) netted 17 and had six rebounds, five assists and a steal for the Tigers, who held a 40-39 advantage at halftime.
Leading the Huskies on the scoreboard was Marquis Clayton (Halifax, NS) who had a double-double night with 21 points and 10 rebounds. He also had a pair of steals and a block.
Kemar Alleyne (Scarborough, ON) scored 20 in the losing effort and had two boards, four assists and a steal. Achuil Lual (Ottawa, ON) and Osman Barrie (Ottawa, ON) each netted 14 points for SMU with Barrie hauling in six rebounds. Brian Rouse (Mississauga, ON) contributed 13 points.
With the win the Tigers advance to the tournament championship game on Saturday evening at 8:00 pm against MSVU, while the Huskies will take on the X-Men in consolation action at 6:00 pm.