Despite foul trouble, Axemen drop UPEI 89-73

WOLFVILLE, N.S. - The last time these two teams faced each other in the opening weekend of the AUS season, the UPEI Panthers led for most of the second of a two-game weekend, but a short-handed Acadia team fought back and stole the win with an 86-85 final score.

In the first of two CIS Shoot for the Cure matchups this weekend, the Axemen came out to prove their previous win wasn't a fluke and defeated UPEI 89-73, improving their record to 8-2 this season.

For the second game in a row, Acadia came out strong in the opening frame, this time, with a 17-2 run led by Anthony Sears who had 10 in the first quarter.

UPEI battled back to pull the Panthers with 11 at 19-8 after one quarter.  The Panthers continued to fight to stay in the game behind 11 points from last year's CIS Rookie of the Year, Deontay Smith. But Sears answered with another 11 points of his own, finishing the game with 32 points on 14 for 22 from the floor and received the Subway Player of the Game honour.

With Shaquille Smith sitting on the bench from his foul trouble of three in the opening quarter, the Axemen struggled with fouls in the third. Big man Owen Klassen along with teammate and starting point guard AJ Simmonds sat on the bench for third quarter.

Aggressive play in the third quarter resulted in tempers flaring and fouls flying with most of the quarter being played from the free throw line as both teams were in the bonus with four minutes left to play and driving strong to the hoop. Near the end of the third, UPEI went on a 13-2 and finished the frame down by five, 65-60.

With Klassen, Smith and Simmonds returning to the court for the fourth, the Panthers pulled to within three but Owen Klassen, who had a quiet double-double with 13 points and 14 boards scored seven straight and put the game away for the Axemen. Kyle Arsenault also had a big game adding 20 points to the victory.

Panther Subway Player of the Game, Deontay Smith, had 20 points for the Panthers, while teammates Joe Kendrick and Brian Ofori added 14 and 12 points respectively in the loss. Three past players for the local Horton Griffins accepted the loss to the hometown favourites including Kendrick, Lorenzo Parker and Ellis Ffrench.

Both teams will face each other again tomorrow evening for the second evening of the Shoot for the Cure weekend, before UPEI travels home to face UNB and Acadia faces Saint Mary's this Wednesday night in Halifax.

Submitted by Ashley Halser – Acadia Sports Information Office