X-Men play to decisive win over Panthers

ANTIGONISH, NS - The STFX X-Men basketball team improved to 6-1 on the season with a decisive 75-58 win over the visiting UPEI Panthers on Coach K Court Saturday night. The X-Men had a big second half, outscoring their opponents by 20 points in the final 20 minutes. 

The teams traded scores early in the fast paced first quarter, with the Panthers pulling away to a five-point lead in the first five minutes. A three-pointer from Panther Kyree Thompson (North Preston, NS) improved the lead to nine points two minutes later, but Gatluak James (Windsor, ON) responded with a triple of his own after a STFX timeout. A pair of free throws from Bennett Grumbach (Toronto, ON) and another bucket from James tied the game at 18 heading into the second quarter. 

The Panthers opened the second quarter with five straight points, but the X Men replied with six straight of their own to pull ahead, before UPEI went on another run, pulling ahead by six. The teams exchanged scores, and the Panthers lead 34-31 at halftime. Hugo Bermejo (Madrid, Spain) had a solid first 20 minutes for the Panthers, notching 10 points and five rebounds. 

The teams traded points early in the third quarter, as the intensity picked up a bit. The X-Men tied the game mid-way through the stanza, and five consecutive points from Matt Pennell (St. John's, NL) helped push the home team to a 10-point lead, 58-48, heading into the final quarter. 

The X-Men momentum continued in the fourth quarter, with an 11-0 run to start things off. The X-Men kept up the scoring and limited UPEI's chances, cruising to the 18-point win. 

Bermejo finished with 14 points, while Kamari Scott (Malton, ON) chipped in 10 points and eight points for the visitors. DJ Jackson (Mississauga, ON) picked up a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds for the X-Men, while James had one of his own with 19 boards and 14 points.  

The X-Men are back in action next week when they visit the Saint Mary's Huskies on Wednesday, November 27, at 8 p.m. The Panthers wrap up the first half of the season on the road next Friday, November 29, when they take on the UNB REDS at 8 p.m.

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Recap courtesy Matt Draper, STFX Athletics