Jackson’s game-winner lifts X-Men to thrilling 85-84 win over Huskies

HALIFAX, NS – STFX guard DJ Jackson poured in a game-high 35 points, including the game-winning jump shot, leading the U SPORTS #8 ranked X-Men to a 85-84 win over the Saint Mary's Huskies in Atlantic University Sport men's basketball action on Wednesday night at the Homburg Centre.

The first quarter was a sign of things to come, with exciting, back-and-forth play and many lead changes. A lay-in from X-Men guard Keyonte Beals (North Preston, NS) gave the visitors an early 12-8 lead, but Saint Mary's guard Jayrell Diggs (East Preston, NS) responded with five straight points to retake the lead 13-12.

The back-and-forth play continued, with neither team leading by more than three-points throughout the remainder of the quarter. In the dying moments of the first, Huskies wing Mason Thurber (Bedford, NS) hit a three-pointer, giving Saint Mary's a 25-22 lead after 10 minutes of play.

Thurber continued his hot shooting into the second quarter hitting a trio of triples to help extend the Huskies lead to as much as 40-31. But STFX guard DJ Jackson (Mississauga, ON) single-handedly kept them in the game, scoring 16 of his team's 22 second quarter points. X-Men guard Matt Pennell (St. John's, NL) hit a three-pointer to cut the Huskies lead to 45-44 late, but Saint Mary's guard Jasha'jaun Downey (East Preston, NS) responded with a jumper, before Thurber once again ended the quarter with a buzzer-beating three to give the hosts a 50-44 lead at halftime.

Mason Thurber and Jasha'jaun Downey each paced the Huskies with 12 first half points, while Jayrell Diggs added 10. The X-Men were led by 20 points from DJ Jackson.

The excitement continued into the third quarter, with three consecutive threes from X-Men guard Keyonte Beals giving them a 54-52 lead. The X-Men defence locked down and kept the Huskies to just 14 third quarter points, but a late free-throw from guard Devawn White (Montreal, QC) gave the Huskies a 64-63 lead heading into the final frame.

Early in the fourth quarter, DJ Jackson converted on a three-point play, giving STFX a 68-64 advantage. Saint Mary's kept it tight, with Jayrell Diggs scoring back-to-back buckets to keep the lead at 72-68, but another Beals three followed by a lay-in from forward Gatluak James (Windsor, ON) gave the X-Men their largest lead of the night, 77-68.

Saint Mary's had a comeback left in the tank, as back-to-back threes from guard Marc-Denault Gabriel (Montreal, QC) and forward Jonah Crowther (Dartmouth, NS) cut the X-Men lead to 83-82. On the ensuing possession, the Huskies forced a stop, and Jayrell Diggs came down and hit a tough driving lay-in, giving Saint Mary's an 84-83 advantage with 28 seconds remaining in regulation.

Unfazed, DJ Jackson sprinted down the court and answered with a pull-up jumper, giving STFX a 85-84 lead. Saint Mary's would have one final shot, but Jasha'jaun Downey's three-pointer rimmed out, and the clock ran out as the X-Men held on for a thrilling 85-84 victory.

X-Men guard DJ Jackson was named Player of the Game, pouring in a game-high 35 points and adding 11 rebounds, four assists and two steals. Keyonte Beals added 24 points, including five three-pointers, and five rebounds and Gatluak James chipped in 12 points and six rebounds.

The Huskies were led by guard Jasha'jaun Downey's 20 points, while Jayrell Diggs stuffed the stat-sheet with 18 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals, and Marc-Denault Gabriel added a 14-point, 15-rebound double-double.

The X-Men win improves their record to a league-leading 7-1 on the season. STFX will finish off the first half of their schedule on the road against the Acadia Axemen (2-5) on Saturday night at 8 p.m. in Wolfville.

The Huskies loss drops their record to 3-5 on the season. Saint Mary's will visit their crosstown rivals the Dalhousie Tigers (2-6) on Saturday night, 8 p.m. at the Dalplex to end off the 2024 portion of the 2024-25 season.

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Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics