Basketball Axemen remain undefeated with win over Dalhousie

WOLFVILLE, N.S. - With a 81-71 win over the winless Dalhousie Tigers, the Acadia Axemen basketball team remains undefeated after three regular season games.

A scrappy Tiger team held its ground in the opening quarter, trailing the Axemen 24-21 after one frame. But the Axemen, led by senior forwards Owen Klassen and Anthony Ashe, pushed the lead to 40-27 by the end of the first half - each scoring nine points and outplaying Dalhousie 16-6 in the second quarter.

Klassen, who started his first game of the season after not playing in the first two games of the regular season at UPEI, left the game with a lower leg injury, at 56-43 with just over a minute remaining in the third quarter.

Anthony Ashe picked up the slack with Klassen's departure with 24 points and Subway Player of the Game honours, as the Axemen used the 13 point halftime lead to hold off Dalhousie.

Tiger Kashrell Lawrence posted a game high 29 points and was an outstanding 12 for 14 from the floor. Lawrence had 18 of his 29 points in the second half and was instrumental in tying the Axemen 18-18 in the third quarter and winning the final frame 26-23.

The Axemen slipped in the final minutes of the third and most of the fourth, due inpart to the initial shuffle of the lineup with Klassen gone. Head Coach Steve Baur noted that the Tigers are a team much better than their record. "The game was a great test for us.  Dal is a tough team and we had to face the emotional fall of Owen going down.  A positive from the game was that we were able to find ways to win the game. We did show some inefficiencies that need to be addressed immediately".

Other notable Axemen included second year New Brunswick standout Kyle Arseneault who had is third consecutive double digit scoring night with 15 points. Shaquille Smith, who was named the AUS athlete of the week recently, scored timely baskets and added 9 points. Klassen, before his departure was four for six from the floor and four for four from the charity strip for 12 points.

Devon Stedman added 14 points and Jarred Reid netted 11 for the Tigers. Dalhousie will host the Axemen at home this Saturday evening for the second of four games this season.