The StFX X-Men (1-0) scored the final six points of the game to rally for a dramatic 75-72 win over the Cape Breton University Capers (0-1) Wednesday night at Oland Centre.
It was the AUS regular season opener for the long-time basketball rivals.
Led by veterans Rod Madera and Jordan Clarke, along with freshman guard Julius Antoine, the X-Men sent the home fans home happy.
With 1:15 remaining in regulation, Madera, from the low post, found a cutting Clarke for a lay-up, which sliced the Capers' lead to 72-71.
After making a steal and drawing a foul on the ensuing Cape Breton possession, Antoine missed both free throws, but Clarke corralled an offensive rebound.
From that play, Madera hit a turn-around jumper with 53 seconds remaining to give the X-Men a 73-72 advantage, on an assist from Antoine.
After a pair of missed free throws by Caper post player AJ Geugjes with 23 seconds left, Sean McCormick secured the offensive board. Seth Amoah missed the next Caper shot and Antoine grabbed the defensive rebound and was fouled by Geugjes.
Antoine made his two free throws to give the X-Men a 75-72 lead.
With one second remaining, Caper point guard Cedric Kasongo missed a three-pointer.
"It was a tough game. We started slowly," forward Shane Coupland, one of five X-Men in double figures, with 10 points, said in a post-game interview.
"We dug deep on defensive at the end and we were able to come up with the big win," he added.
The Capers took a 27-16 lead after the first quarter, on the strength of 13 points from guard Ashton Stephenson, including three three-pointers.
At halftime, the visitors led 39-31.
In third quarter, the X-Men outscored the Capers 25-17, which tied the score 56-56 heading to the fourth quarter.
Led by Meshack Lufile, with nine points and two blocks, the Capers took a 69-60 lead with 5:41 remaining in regulation.
The X-Men ended the game on a 15-3 run.
Along with Coupland, Clarke, with a game-high 17, Antoine (14), Madera (13) and Will Donkoh (13) hit double digits in scoring.
Donkoh, who led the X-Men with eight rebounds, added two assists and one steal.
Antoine, the Subway player of the game, dished out six assists, while Madera chipped in four. That tandem also contributed six rebounds apiece.
For the Capers, Stephenson scored a team-high 16 points, while Amoah and Lufile each added 14.
McCormick and Geugjes led their team with seven rebounds apiece.
Stephenson and Kasongo contributed four assists each, while Kelson Devereaux added four steals.
The teams will return to action when they tip-off Saturday, Nov. 9 at Sullivan Field House on the Cape Breton University campus in Sydney. Game time is 8 p.m.
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