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Panthers earn comeback win over X-Men in AUS final

For the first time since 2003, the UPEI Panthers are Atlantic University Sport champions following an astounding 84-79 comeback win over the STFX X-Men

Photo credit Nick Pearce
Photo credit Nick Pearce
Box Score
March 2, 2025

HALIFAX, NS - For the first time since 2003, the UPEI Panthers are Atlantic University Sport champions following an astounding 84-79 comeback win over the STFX X-Men on Sunday afternoon at Scotiabank Centre. The Panthers, who were down by as many as 24 points in the second quarter, are now heading to the 2025 U SPORTS Men's Final 8 Championship March 13-16, in Vancouver, BC. 

UPEI first team all-star Kamari Scott led the way for the Panthers, with 24 points, including 10 from the line, and seven rebounds. Kyree Thompson had 20 points for the new AUS champs, with Daniel Gonzalez Long finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds.  

For STFX, D.J. Jackson, AUS MVP and leading scorer in the country, led all scorers with 33 points, while Keyonte Beals, Matt Pennell, and AUS defender of the year Jeff Ngandu each had 9.  

Defense was the name of the game in the first two minutes with neither team able to get a bucket. Gonzalez Long finally broke the deadlock for the Panthers, but a triple from Pennell gave the X-Men a 5-3 lead halfway through the first quarter.  

Panther Owen Smith and X-Men Bennett Grumbach hit call and answer triples late in the quarter, and a pair of free throws helped the Blue and White to a five-point lead. UPEI's Sam Dyck hit another from beyond the arc to kick off a five-point run for the Panthers, with Thompson hitting two late free throws to tie the game at 12 heading into the second quarter.  

The Panthers only shot 17.6 per cent from the floor in the first 10 minutes but had a 19-10 rebound advantage.  

Ngandu had a big slam to open what turned into a 23-2 run for STFX, leading AUS coach of the year Darrel Glenn to call both timeouts early in the quarter. Beals splashed another three for STFX to increase the lead to 16 points five minutes before half.

Gonzalez Long finally ended the Panthers scoring drought a minute later. The X-Men were up by as many as 24, but the half ended 44-28 for STFX following a late run from the Panthers.  

Free throws were key for the X-Men in the opening 20 minutes, hitting 14 of 17, while also shooting 50 per cent from the floor. Jackson picked up 11 points and five assists in the half. Scott had eight points for the Panthers at half, along with four rebounds.  

Scott opened the scoring in the third quarter with a jumper, while the Panthers rattled off 12 straight points before Jackson was able to reply halfway through the quarter. A layup from Scott cut the lead to two, and another from Thompson tied the game with seven minutes gone. Four points in a row from Jackson rebuilt the lead for STFX, a lead they held heading into the final quarter. 

Jackson started another big quarter with six points in the first three minutes, but a Gonzalez Long jumper cut the lead to one with five minutes to go. STFX coach Tyrell Vernon called a time out but Panthers rookie Terrance Booker but a layup to give the Panthers the lead for the first time since the opening quarter.  

Vernon called another timeout with two minutes to go with his team down by four. Pennel immediately responded with a three pointer, making for an exciting final 90 seconds. Thompson hit a triple with a minute to go to regain the four-point lead, and Scott iced the game with three free-throws in the final 10 seconds to clinch the 84-79 win.  

UPEI's Kamari Scott was named the Tournament MVP, along with being named to the tournament all-star team with teammate Kyree Thompson. STFX's D.J. Jackson and Jeff Ngandu were alos honoured as tournament all-stars, as was Cape Breton's Shakael Pryce.

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Recap courtesy Matt Draper, STFX Athletics