Antigonish, NS – The StFX X-Men won a key game worth four points in the AUS standings in a high scoring 108-99 victory over the Cape Breton Capers Saturday evening on Coach K Court at the StFX Oland Centre.
Both teams came out shooting in the first quarter and found themselves deadlocked at 28-28 after 10 minutes. Capers freshman guard Osman Omar (Mississauga, ON) netted nine points in the opening frame while X-Men forward Daniel Passley (Mississauga, ON) scored seven off the bench and Tristen Ross (Truro, NS) drained a pair of treys.
The X-Men played a strong second quarter, out-scoring the Capers 25-14 as they took a 53-42 lead into the locker room at half time. Ross added to his point total scoring 10 in the quarter including another pair of three-pointers.
Cape Breton replied with strong three-point shooting of their own early in the third quarter. Martin Campbell (Upper Marlboro, MD) scored 19 of his game-high 40 points in the quarter, including a trio of three-point shots.
Cape Breton out-paced the X-Men 31-24 in the third quarter and pulled to within four points as the X-Men held a 77-73 lead.
The fourth quarter saw the teams battle right down to the finish as veteran X-Men center Cameron Walker (Dallas, TX) was strong in the paint, scoring seven points.
Cambell continued his torrid scoring pace for the Capers, netting 16 points in the final quarter including 12 points from behind the three-point arc, all of the treys coming at critical moments for the visitors, getting them right back into the game.
With just under four minutes to play the X-Men held a one-point lead at 89-88. Fifth year guard Julius Antoine (Vaughan, ON) was clutch for StFX down the stretch scoring nine points, all of which came in the final two minutes of play.
StFX was able to pull away in the final minute as the Capers ran out of time and X held on with the 108-99 win.
Antoine finished with 20 points, as did Subway Player of the Game Davonte Provo (East Preston, NS), along with eight rebounds. Ross was the X-Men leading scorer with 23 points, while Walker scored 17 and hauled in 13 rebounds for a double-double night.
Justin Andrew (Hamilton, ON) added 14 points for StFX including a trio of three-points and Passley scored 10 off the X-Men bench.
The Capers player of the game, Campbell had a big game with 40 points and eight rebounds, draining seven buckets from three-point range. Paul Watson (Mississauga, ON) scored 14 and had nine rebounds off the Capers bench, while Omar contributed 11 points.
The X-Men were without the services of reigning league MVP and veteran fifth year forward Kevin Bercy (Kanata, ON) who was out of the lineup due to a lower body injury.
The game marked the final one of the first half for both teams. StFX will next see action on January 6th when they will host UPEI. The Capers will also play on January 6th as they visit Memorial in St. John's, NF.
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