MenÕs Basketball Preview: StFX vs. Acadia & UPEI
February 10, 2012
The CIS ranked No. 8 X-Men play host to the Acadia Axemen and UPEI Panthers this Saturday, February 11th and Sunday, February 12th. Saturday’s game against Acadia tips off at 8:00 pm at the StFX Oland Centre, while the action resumes the Sunday at 4:00 pm against UPEI.
Acadia Axeman: 9-4 record with 28 points, second in the conference
StFX X-Men: 10-4 record with 24 points, third in the conference
X-Men vs. Axemen: The X-Men have played the Axemen just once this regular season, beating the red and white 90-89 in an overtime thriller in Wolfville, N.S. back in November. Their second matchup of the season is an important one as the game is worth four points, giving the X-Men a chance to move up to a tie for second place in the standings with the Axemen, bearing a victory.
Key Players: Terry Thomas and Jeremy Dunn have been the offensive catalysts for the X-Men this season. Thomas is third in the league in scoring, averaging 19.6 points per game while Dunn is seventh in the conference, averaging 17.9 points a game. Axemen guard Anthony Sears has really turned it on as of late after recovering from an injury, rocketing in to the top 10 in AUS scoring, sitting in eighth spot averaging 17.3 points per game. Owen Klassen is a big-time defensive player for Acadia, averaging 9.5 rebounds per game and 1.72 blocks.
Game Notes:
X-Men Head Coach Steve Konchalski: “We expect Acadia to be very good. Acadia has won six straight games and they are red hot right now. We will have to be prepared.”
Acadia has been very strong this season on the defensive side of the ball, placing fifth in the nation in both steals and blocks per game.
The X-Men can match up well defensively with the Axemen, as they sit second in the nation in blocks per game. The X-Men also are ninth in the country in field goals made per game.
UPEI Panthers: 12-3 record with 32 points, first in the conference
StFX X-Men: 10-4 record with 24 points, third in the conference
X-Men vs. Panthers: The X-Men and Panthers have battled only once this regular season, with the Panthers winning 100-76 in Charlottetown on January 15th, although the X-Men played with a depleted line-up for that game. The second matchup of the season will mark an important four point game.
Key Players: Donathan Moss and Jonathan Cooper are fifth and sixth in league scoring respectively, averaging 18.3 and 18 points per game. The two have been instrumental in the offensive production for the first place Panthers all season long. Terry Thomas and Jeremy Dunn have been offensive dynamos for the X-Men all season. Tyrell Vernon has been very good dishing the ball to Thomas and Dunn, as he averages 5.21 assists per game, good for third overall in the conference.
Game Notes:
Head Coach Steve Konchalski: “These four point games are so huge. This weekend could really determine the playoff picture so it’ll be a big one.”
UPEI is first in the country in offensive rebounds per game, as well as third in points per game.
The X-Men are looking to exact a 34 point loss to the Panthers that happened less than a month ago. The two teams are battling for the first round playoff bye, so intensity should be very high.
Acadia Axeman: 9-4 record with 28 points, second in the conference
StFX X-Men: 10-4 record with 24 points, third in the conference
X-Men vs. Axemen: The X-Men have played the Axemen just once this regular season, beating the red and white 90-89 in an overtime thriller in Wolfville, N.S. back in November. Their second matchup of the season is an important one as the game is worth four points, giving the X-Men a chance to move up to a tie for second place in the standings with the Axemen, bearing a victory.
Key Players: Terry Thomas and Jeremy Dunn have been the offensive catalysts for the X-Men this season. Thomas is third in the league in scoring, averaging 19.6 points per game while Dunn is seventh in the conference, averaging 17.9 points a game. Axemen guard Anthony Sears has really turned it on as of late after recovering from an injury, rocketing in to the top 10 in AUS scoring, sitting in eighth spot averaging 17.3 points per game. Owen Klassen is a big-time defensive player for Acadia, averaging 9.5 rebounds per game and 1.72 blocks.
Game Notes:
X-Men Head Coach Steve Konchalski: “We expect Acadia to be very good. Acadia has won six straight games and they are red hot right now. We will have to be prepared.”
Acadia has been very strong this season on the defensive side of the ball, placing fifth in the nation in both steals and blocks per game.
The X-Men can match up well defensively with the Axemen, as they sit second in the nation in blocks per game. The X-Men also are ninth in the country in field goals made per game.
UPEI Panthers: 12-3 record with 32 points, first in the conference
StFX X-Men: 10-4 record with 24 points, third in the conference
X-Men vs. Panthers: The X-Men and Panthers have battled only once this regular season, with the Panthers winning 100-76 in Charlottetown on January 15th, although the X-Men played with a depleted line-up for that game. The second matchup of the season will mark an important four point game.
Key Players: Donathan Moss and Jonathan Cooper are fifth and sixth in league scoring respectively, averaging 18.3 and 18 points per game. The two have been instrumental in the offensive production for the first place Panthers all season long. Terry Thomas and Jeremy Dunn have been offensive dynamos for the X-Men all season. Tyrell Vernon has been very good dishing the ball to Thomas and Dunn, as he averages 5.21 assists per game, good for third overall in the conference.
Game Notes:
Head Coach Steve Konchalski: “These four point games are so huge. This weekend could really determine the playoff picture so it’ll be a big one.”
UPEI is first in the country in offensive rebounds per game, as well as third in points per game.
The X-Men are looking to exact a 34 point loss to the Panthers that happened less than a month ago. The two teams are battling for the first round playoff bye, so intensity should be very high.