X-Men 1-2 on Ontario exhibition swing

The StFX X-Men basketball team posted a 1-2 record during an exhibition swing through Ontario over the weekend. They earned a win over Guelph, but lost games to McMaster and Brock.

Sunday, the blue and white dropped a 79-66 decision to the Brock Badgers in St. Catherine’s, Ont.

After one quarter Brock led by six points at 26-20. With under four minutes left in the second quarter, the Badgers led 35-30 and closed out the quarter on an 8-4 run to increase their lead to nine points at the half (43-34).

In the third quarter, Brock extended their lead to 19 points after putting together a 15-5 run over a three minute span to take a 58-39 lead with 6:31 left in the quarter. 

Brock had five players in double scoring figures to contribute to the win. Jameson Tipping scored 18 points, followed by Tshing Kasamba with 16 points. Mark Gibson and Brian Nahimana both contributed 11 points, while Isaack Egueh added 10.

Leading the X-Men was fifth-year veteran forward Jeremy Dunn who scored a game-high 23 points and also added nine rebounds. Guard Will Donkoh contributed 19 points and eight rebounds, while Shane Copeland scored 11 points in the loss.

The Badgers shot 42.6% (29-for-58) from the field, 34.8% (8-for-23) from beyond the arc and 68.4% (13-for-19) from the free throw line.

The X-Men were 23-for-65 (35.4%) from the floor. They were 3-for-14 (21.4%) from three-point range and 70.8% (17-for-24) from the charity stripe.

On Saturday afternoon, the X-Men defeated the Guelph Gryphons 92-78.

They got off to a 27-20 lead in the first quarter of play, and although the X-Men were outscored 17-15 in the second quarter, they held onto a 42-37 advantage at half-time.

The second half saw the blue and white score 50 points to the Gryphons 41 to hold onto the victory.

Donkoh scored a game-high 25 points on 11 of 17 shooting. He also contributed nine rebounds and three steals in the victory. Dunn chipped in 19 points, seven rebounds and two assists, while Jordan Clarke added 16 points, five rebounds and two steals. Freshman Jordan Tyrrell also hit double digits with 12 points.

Replying for the Gryphons was Trevor Thompson with 22 points and six rebounds, with Zach Angus scoring 20 in the losing effort. Ahmed Haroon added 12 points and Michel Clark scored 11.

Guelph struggled from field goal ranging, shooting 37.3% (15-38), while they were 32.4% (5-19) from the three-point arc, and 64.7% (6-10) at the free throw line. The X-Men were 50.7% (17-29) from field goal range, 27.3% (2-7) in three-point shooting, and 86.4% (14-16) in free throws.

On Friday night in Hamilton, Ont. the X-Men faced a tough McMaster Marauders squad, losing 98-78.

The Marauder long ball was too much for the X-Men, as McMaster made 13 three-point shots in the win. The Marauders outscored the X-Men in every quarter of the game, holding a 51-43 lead at the half.

Joe Rocca led the McMaster attack with 28 points, including five from three-point range, while Nathan Pelech added four three-pointers for 18 total points. Rohan Boney contributed 16 points.

The top scorers for the X-Men were Will Donkoh and Shane Coupland, who scored 15 points apiece.

McMaster won the battle of the boards, out-rebounding St FX 46 to 29.

With the 1-2 weekend, the X-Men fall to 2-4 in pre-season exhibition play. They will return to action this weekend when they host the 34th annual StFX Invitational at Oland Centre.

The Cape Breton University Capers and UPEI Panthers will tip-off action at 6 p.m. Friday evening in the first semifinal, followed by the UNB Varsity Reds and X-Men at 8 p.m. The losers will battle for third place Saturday at 6 p.m., while the championship game is scheduled to tip-off at 8 p.m.

The X-Men are the tournament’s defending champions and have won the event in seven of the past nine years.