Axemen top the standings with 5-2 record

What a difference a year makes.

The red-hot Acadia men's basketball squad heads into the Christmas break with a three-game winning streak, an impressive 5-2 record and a share of first place.

A reversal of fortune for a team coming off a season where it missed the playoffs with a 5-15 record.

"I'm pretty happy with what we have achieved the first half of the season,'' said head coach Kevin Duffie.

"Our team kept getting better each and every day these past three months and our guys are feeling pretty good about their efforts."

It has not been all good news for the Axemen as the team was dealt an early blow when hard-working forward Rhys Larry, coming off a breakout individual season, suffered a season-ending injury in the first quarter of Acadia's first game of a tournament at Carleton University in Ottawa back in October.

"He's been such a huge piece for us so we really needed to regroup," said Duffie.

With Larry out of the lineup and Sean Stoqua not returning to Acadia basketball, the openings were taken up by 6-foot-10 newcomer Erik Nissen and second-year guard Nick De Palma, joining last season's regular starters, forward Kyle Arsenault, guards Shaquille Smith and Ben Miller.

Both have made positive contributions and provide the Axemen with a potent starting lineup where each starter is averaging double figures.

"When one player suffers some adversity, it does create some opportunity for others. We have asked Kyle to take on an increased role and he has responded well. And we put Nick De Palma into a starting role and he has produced for us."

Arsenault, from Fredericton, N.B., and coming off a injury-shortened season last year, leads the Axemen in scoring, averaging 17.3 points per game, seventh best in the conference. He has done this while shooting better than 50 per cent from the three-point line.

Miller, the conference's rookie of the year last season, leads the league in assists and is averaging 13.3 points per game heading into the break.

Nissen, from Quispamsis, NB, has made an immediate impact and is averaging just under 15 points per game and is the Axemen's second leading scorer.

"He's been a great addition and has lived up to expectations."

De Palma, of Bedford, is averaging 13.7 points per game for the Axemen.

"We have a group of kids who can fill up the basket and it can be a different player who steps up in any one game,'' said Duffie.

Duffie is also pleased with the consistent efforts of fifth-year senior Shaquille Smith. 

"He has a great work ethic and gives his best day in and day out. He does not care about who gets the credit. He just comes with a work ethic and mentors some of the younger players. All to ensure the team's success as a whole."

Smith, of North Preston, and one of two Auburn products (A.J. Simmonds is the other) on the Axemen, is happy with the way the team is playing.

"I am very pleased with my team's performance so far, not only in games, but in practice as well," said Smith, who is averaging 14 points per game. "We still have a lot of improving to do."

Smith says the team needs to reduce turnovers in the second half of the season.

"We make a conscious effort to be disruptive on defence and we need to value the ball more once we get defensive stops."

The athletic guard says the Axemen need to remain hungry to compete in the second half of the season.

"We need to be prepared for an intense game every time we step on the court. There are no easily beatable teams in our league."

Fourth-year guard A.J. Simmonds of Dartmouth, veteran forward Thomas Johnston of Midland, ON, and freshman Mitchell Tempro, A Horton High product out of Three Mile Plains, have also played critical roles for Acadia.

Duffie says the Axemen will use the Christmas break to rest aches and pains and to prep for the second half of the season, which will feature a baker's dozen of regular season games over January and February.

The Axemen's Christmas break will be a short one. The team heads to Manitoba on Boxing Day to take part in the Wesmen Classic in Winnipeg, where Miller played his high school basketball. The following weekend will see Acadia ring in the New Year by playing in the 2016 edition of the Shoveller Memorial basketball tournament at Dalplex in Halifax.

Duffie says the Axemen will spend the next few weeks working on individual and team defence, both essential to Axemen's future success as the team works through the second half of the season.

"We will need to be able to get key stops down the stretch and hold teams off."

Second-year forward Nick Ernest, of Oakville, ON, who showed a lot of promise in his rookie season, is expected to return to the lineup in the New Year after suffering an injury early in the season.

The Axemen began their season with a 82-77 road win over Cape Breton University in Sydney. They lost 94-76 to CBU in the second game of the weekend in Cape Breton.

Acadia won in its second game of the season by beating St. Francis Xavier 81-71 in that school's home opener. The X-Men then squeaked out a 93-92 win in Wolfville a few days later.

The Axemen's three-game winning streak started with a 85-83 home win over Dalhousie, followed by a home sweep of the previously unbeaten UPEI Panthers. Acadia won the first game 96-87, and 110-107 in the second.

League play for the Axemen resumes in St. John's as Acadia travels to Memorial for a pair of games on Jan. 9 and 10.

The following weekend Acadia travels to Charlottetown for a pair of games with the UPEI Panthers.

Acadia comes back to Wolfville to host St.FX on Wednesday, Jan. 20, and heads back to Antigonish on the Friday to play the X-Men.

The Axemen travel to Halifax on Saturday, Jan. 30 to play the Dal Tigers. 

In February, Acadia hosts CBU for a pair of games on Feb. 5 and 6, then travels to Saint Mary's to play the Huskies on Feb. 12. On Feb. 19, Acadia hosts UNB and then plays SMU in Wolfville on Feb. 23.

The Axemen wrap up their regular season by travelling to Fredericton to play UNB on Feb. 27.