Antigonish, NS – The StFX X-Men closed out AUS regular season play with a 93-78 victory over the Cape Breton Capers Friday night at the Saputo Centre.
With the win, the X-Men improve to 11-9 on the season and currently sit in second place with 36 points, two ahead of the UNB Reds. The must await the result of the UNB-DAL game (worth four points) on Sunday to determine their final standing and whether they will maintain their second place standing and nab a first round playoff bye.
The Capers (8-12) are tied with Acadia for fifth place with 20 points apiece and have already secured a playoff berth in next weekend's Subway AUS championship. The top six teams will square off February 28 – March 1 at Halifax's Scotiabank Centre.
In Friday's night's game the X-Men got out to an early 21-16 lead after the first quarter.
The increased their lead to 10 points two minutes into the second quarter, going up 28-18 thanks to a lay-up and three-pointer by Jaydan Smith (Halifax, NS).
The Capers crept back into the game, keeping within striking distance as they trailed by three points, 28-25, midway through the quarter.
StFX held a 41-33 lead at halftime.
The X-Men went on a run in the third quarter and increased their lead to 50-37 four minutes in. The Capers held with them however, and won the quarter 27-24 as they trailed 65-60 after 30 minutes.
StFX maintained their lead throughout the fourth quarter. Jamie White (Saint John, NB) hit a key three-pointer with six minutes left to put the home team up 74-66.
Leading by 11 with four minutes left in the game the X-Men held on for the 93-78 win.
White received Subway player of the game honours for his 13 point, seven rebound effort off the X-Men bench.
Big man Azaro Roker (Nassau, Bahamas) scored a game-high 24 points and had another double-double night with 13 rebounds.
Avan Nava (Mississauga, ON) and Justin Andrew (Hamilton, ON) each scored 16 points for X, while Smith contributed 10 points.
Osman Omar (Mississauga, ON) lead the Capers in scoring with 20 points.
Fourth year guard Paul Watson (Mississauga, ON) had a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds, while CJ Bennett (Brmapton, ON) scored 12 off the bench and Jason Callaghan (Sydney, NS) added 11.
The schedule for the Subway AUS Championship taking place next weekend in Halifax will be released on Sunday evening.
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Courtesy StFX Sports Information