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X-Men punch ticket to AUS final with decisive semifinal victory over UNB

The X-Men will be playing for the AUS championship banner Sunday afternoon thanks to a decisive 90-55 victory over the UNB REDS in the semifinal game

Photo credit Adam Grimmit
Photo credit Adam Grimmit
Box Score
March 1, 2025

Halifax, NS – The STFX X-Men Basketball team will be playing for the AUS championship banner Sunday afternoon thanks to a decisive 90-55 victory over the UNB REDS Saturday afternoon in the semifinal game at the Bell AUS Championship at Scotiabank Centre.

The X-Men were lead by AUS MVP D.J. Jackson who showed why he was the leading scorer in the country as he drained 33 points and hauled in 12 rebounds for a double-double performance.

Bennett Grumbach scored 15 points, Gatluak James netted 11 and Jeff Ngandu had 10.

The X-Men got out to an early 8-3 lead in the first quarter as Jackson hit a three pointer four minutes in.

The Blue and White increased their lead to 11-6 midway through, and Ngandu excited the crowd with a dunk to go up 19-13.

The X-Men added three more points as they held a 22-13 lead to close out the opening quarter.

STFX continued their momentum into the second quarter. A three-pointer from Grumbach gave them a 16-point lead (29-13) two minutes in.

The REDS struggled on offense and the X-Men went on a nine-point run to take a commanding 22-point lead at 40-18 midway through the quarter.

They finished the half with a 50-33 lead, powered by 19 points from Jackson. Grumbach had nine points, all from three-point range.

Brandon Laryea led the REDS with 10 points in the first half. He would finish the game with 13 to lead all REDS scorers.

The X-Men held UNB to only four points through the opening six minutes of the third quarter. Back-to-back threes from Grumbach and Keyonte Beals put the X-Men in a comfortable position.

They closed out the third frame leading 69-46.

STFX continued to dominate throughout the fourth quarter. A three-pointer from Matt Pennell four minutes in gave X a 30-point cushion at 79-49.

They closed out the game outscoring the REDS 21-9 in the final quarter to take home the 90-55 semifinal victory and punch their ticket to the AUS championship game.

The X-Men will await the result of the second semifinal game between Cape Breton and UPEI to determine their opponent in the final game. Tip-off is 4:00 pm at the Scotiabank Centre.

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Recap courtesy Krista McKenna, STFX Athletics


Photo credit Nick Pearce