(HALIFAX, N.S.) - After two high-scoring games, the UPEI Panthers are off to the 2022 Subway AUS men’s basketball championship game on Sunday.
The Panthers (3rd seed) defeated the STFX X-Men (2nd seed) by a score of 105-88 to move on to the final, as the team from Prince Edward Island looks to win their first AUS title since 2003.
Subway player of the game Elijah Miller (Rexdale, Ont.) picked up where he left off, with 22 points in the first half, 24 hours after putting up 37 points in the 95-80 win over the Cape Breton Capers. Miller finished with 34 points and nine assists in the win.
As was the case in the quarter-final the day before, UPEI’s Dakelle Brooks (East Preston, N.S.) continued to be successful from beyond the arc, with four three-pointers in the opening quarter. He finished the night five-for-eight.
X-Men’s Gatluak James (Windsor, Ont.) made his first basket of the game at the end of the first quarter, but it was the Panthers ahead 31-19 through 10 minutes.
A pair of three-pointers by the Panthers gave the team a 15-point lead early in the second quarter. STFX responded by making four free throws as they worked to get back into the game.
X-Men Subway player of the game David Muenkat (Brampton, Ont.) made an acrobatic block for STFX, much to the delight of the X-Men fans behind the opposition net. The third-year forward finished the night with 16 rebounds and 29 points.
UPEI consistently put numbers on the board and enjoyed a comfortable lead throughout the first 20 minutes, leading 63-42 at halftime.
STFX came back on the court with energy, gradually shrinking the lead with the help of two three-pointers from Avan Nava (Mississauga, Ont.) early in the third quarter.
Miller heated up once again in the third quarter, with seven points and two steals in the final four minutes of the third quarter. While STFX was able to outscore UPEI 23-19 in the third quarter, the Panthers still enjoyed an 82-65 lead.
A steal and layup by STFX second team all-star Justin Andrew (Hamilton, Ont.) brought the X-Men to within 10 points for the first time since 15 seconds in the second half.
Fourth-year Panthers guard Glen Cox (Scotsburn, N.S.) and second-year guard Kamari Scott (Malton, Ont.) both took turns sinking baskets late in the fourth quarter as UPEI found contributions from throughout its lineup.
With a sizable gap in the score, both teams gave their starters a much-deserved break and let the reserves close out the final 45 seconds.
The Panthers play the Dalhousie Tigers in the final on Sunday, March 20 at 4 p.m. The defending champions made the final after an 87-85 win over the Memorial Sea-Hawks (5) on Saturday afternoon.
Watch both the men’s and women’s AUS championship games on AUStv.ca or get tickets to watch the action in person at ticketatlantic.com.
Recap by Jonathan Briggins