X-Men win 2nd straight UNB hoop invitational

The StFX X-Men won their second straight UNB Eric Garland invitational basketball tournament this past weekend, opening pre-season exhibition play with three wins.

The X-Men earned tournament wins over Lee Academy (95-62), the host UNB Varsity Reds (77-75), and the Universite de Quebec a Montreal (81-70), with the UNB win being the deciding game in earning tournament honors.

On Friday afternoon the X-Men opened tournament play with the convincing 95-62 win over Lee Academy of Maine. All eleven StFX players hit the score sheet, as the X-Men were led by Alberto Rodriguez who had a double-double game with 17 points and 12 rebounds.

Christian ‘T-Bear’ Upshaw scored 16 points for X and added 4 assists. Jeremy Dunn scored 15 points, while Jordan Hope notched 14 and freshman forward Riiny Ngot scored 10 points and had 11 rebounds and 5 blocks.

T-Bear Upshaw earned Player of the Game honors for StFX while David Hanson was the Player of the Game for Lee Academy, scoring 22 points in the game.

The second game of the tournament had the X-Men facing the host UNB Varsity Reds on Saturday evening and fans were treated to an exciting game where the two teams exchanged slim margins of the lead from start to finish. The Varsity Reds opened with a 21-20 first quarter advantage and a 39-38 half-time lead. They also held a slight advantage throughout the third quarter as well, but the X-Men won the final quarter and the game as Chad Warren scored a late three-pointer for X to seal the close 77-75 win.

T-Bear Upshaw led all players scoring 27 points in the game. He also had 6 rebounds, 5 assists and a steal. Rookie Jordan Clarke scored 14 points while Jeremy Dunn had a double-double game with 13 points and 11 rebounds and was named Player of the Game for the X-Men. Alberto Rodriguez also hit the double scoring figures for StFX tallying 11 points and adding 6 boards.

UNB Player of the Game Colton Wilson scored 25 points and had 8 rebounds while Michael Anderson and Alex DesRoches each scored 12 points a piece. DesRoches also led the Varsity Reds with 10 rebounds.

The X-Men rounded out their undefeated weekend with an 81-70 win over UQAM on Sunday morning. Jeremy Dunn led the StFX attack scoring 16 points and adding 12 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals while six other X-Men were in the double scoring figures.

Albertos Rodriguez scored 15 points and had 8 rebounds, T-Bear Upshaw scored 12 points and Rinny Ngot had 11 points, 6 rebounds and 4 blocks. Jordan Hope and Jordan Clarke each scored 10 points a piece and Clarke earned Player of the Game honors for the X-Men.

Arthaud Plesius was Player of the Game for UQAM, leading their team with 19 points. Gregory St-Amand scored 15 points and had 10 rebounds. 

With a 3-0 weekend record, the X-Men took top tournament honors for the second consecutive year. UNB finished at 2-1, followed by UQAM at 1-2 and Lee Academy at 0-3. Christian Upshaw was named the Tournament Most Valuable Player and Jordan Clarke earned a spot on the tournament all-star team. 

The X-Men continue exhibition play this weekend as they are set to host their 31st annual Pizza Delight StFX Basketball Invitational tournament Oct. 16-17 at the StFX Oland Centre. On Friday night, Oct. 16, the Saint Mary’s Huskies will square off at 6:00 pm, followed by the host StFX X-Men and Memorial Seahawks at 8:00 pm. Saturday at 6:00 pm will be the consolation final, followed by the championship game at 8:00 pm.