X-Men clinch first place with big win over Acadia

ANTIGONISH, NS - The STFX X-Men controlled all four quarters with a dominant 101-71 win over the Acadia Axemen on Friday night on Coach K Court. The win makes it 10 in a row for STFX, who clinched first place in the AUS and a first-round playoff bye with the victory.  

Gabriel Pizza Player of the Game Matt Pennell scored 15 points from beyond the arc, while AUS leading scorer DJ Jackson led all scorers with 22 points. Gabe Davignon finished with 17 points for Acadia.  

The X-Men flew out of the gate, netting 19 points in the first four minutes of the game, with Jackson, Owen Frayne, and Phoenyx Wyse all finding the mark from three-point land. STFX kept the pressure high throughout the opening quarter, which wrapped up with the Blue and White leading 36-18. 

The play evened out in the second quarter, though the X-Men kept stretching their advantage. Long-range shooting continued paying dividends for X with Gabe Marcotullio and Pennell scoring from deep, and the home team were up 60-35 at halftime.   

Acadia opened the second half with an 11-2 run, led by strong play from Davignon and Ryan Regault. The X-Men didn't roll over though and responded with a big run of their own pushing the lead to 26. STFX held a big advantage in the rebound department, doubling the Axemen in the first three quarters.  

The Axemen opened the final quarter strong, but STFX's sharp shooting kept them on top. Pennell drained his fifth three-pointer in the sixth minute, and the X-Men went up by 30 points late in the game. Lucas Mate closed out the scoring for STFX, who finish their regular season on the road next weekend, with a Friday game against the UPEI Panthers on Friday, February 13 at 8 p.m., followed by a game against UNB on Saturday.   

Prior to the game the X-Men honored graduating student-athletes Matt Pennell and Jeff Ngandu, along with graduating student staff Cole McLeman (videographer), Nathan MacDonald (student therapist) and Marcus Upshaw (assistant coach. 

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Recap courtesy Matt Draper, STFX Athletics