Basketball X-Men open exhibition season

The StFX X-Men basketball team tipped off its exhibition season over the weekend at the UNB Eric Garland tournament in Fredericton, posting a 1-2 record.
 
Sunday morning, the blue and white defeated the Université de Quebec at Montreal Citadins 85-73.
Senior forward Jeremy Dunn, who led the X-Men with 25 points, including four-for-five from beyond the arc, earned player of the game honours.
 
Jordan Clarke chipped in 16 points, seven assists and seven rebounds, while Will Donkoh contributed 18 points, five rebounds and two assists.
 
The X-Men, who led 53-41 at halftime, shot 46 percent from the field. Philippe Tamba and Richard Addai led the Citadins with 14 points apiece.
 
Saturday night, the X-Men battled the host Varsity Reds, who are coached by Brent Baker, a former X-Men player and assistant coach, and former X-Women head coach.
 
The home team scored a 110-107 win in the overtime shootout.
 
Senior guard Tyrell Vernon, player of the game, led the blue and white with 34 points and seven assists.
Shane Coupland contributed a double-double with 24 points and 14 rebounds. Donkoh, with 18, and freshman Jordan Tyrrell (13), were the other X-Men who scored in double digits.
 
The X-Men shot 46 percent from the field, including 43 percent from three-point range. Jordan Irvine, player of the game for the Varsity Reds, led his team with 31 points and 16 rebounds.
 
Clarke and Dunn each scored 26 points as the X-Men opened the tournament Friday with a 117-110 overtime loss to the Saint Mary’s Huskies.

After being deadlocked 101-101 at the end of regulation, the Huskies outscored the X-Men 16-9 in overtime. The X-Men led 54-51 at halftime.
 
Coupland and Vernon, with 17 points apiece, along with Donkoh (11), reached double digits for the blue and white. The X-Men, who were outrebounded 51-26, were led by Donkoh with six. Clarke dished out six assists, with Vernon chipping in five.
              
Both teams committed 10 turnovers in the high-scoring affair.  Johnny Higgins led the Huskies with 25 points.   
 
Veteran fifth year forward Jeremy Dunn was named to the tournament all-star team.
The X-Men are back in action October 19 to 21, when they make an exhibition swing through Ontario, where they will face the McMaster Marauders, Guelph Gryphons and Brock Badgers.