Hoop X-Men fall to Varsity Reds

Antigonish, N.S. - The visiting UNB Varsity Reds (5-4) defeated the StFX X-Men (1-7) by a 100-83 score in AUS basketball action Saturday night at the Oland Centre.

In a high-scoring opening 10 minutes, the X-Men took a 25-20 advantage after the first quarter, with junior guard Julius Antoine (Woodbridge, ON) leading the way with 11 points, while sophomore point guard Davonte Provo (East Preston, NS) chipped in eight, including two three-pointers.

All-Canadian guard Javon Masters (Kitchener, ON) led the visitors with nine points in the first stanza.

In the opening five minutes of the second quarter, the Varsity Reds rode a 19-10 surge to take a 39-35 edge over the X-Men.

On the strength of another 13-2 run, UNB took a 54-37 advantage to the locker room at halftime.

Masters collected 25 points for the Varsity Reds, on nine-for-13 shooting from the field, in the first half.

Both teams were sharp from long range, with each side hitting six three pointers.

The Varsity Reds shot a blistering 57.6 per cent from the floor in the first half, while the X-Men were successful on 34.4 per cent of their attempts.

UNB outscored StFX 34-12 in the second quarter.

In the third quarter, the X-Men held a 32-25 scoring advantage over the Varsity Reds to cut the UNB edge to 79-69 heading into the fourth period.

Cameron Walker (Dallas, TX) led StFX with seven points, including a three-point play, during the third quarter effort.

In the fourth quarter, the Varsity Reds outscored the X-Men 21-14 to pull away for the victory.

Subway player of the game Masters finished with a game-high 42 points for UNB, while adding six assists, four steals and two rebounds.

Guards Matthew Daley (Belledune, NB) and Jesse Kendall (Guelph, ON) also scored in double digits for the Varsity Reds with 23 and 19 points, respectively.

Daley dished out 11 assists, while collecting six rebounds and three steals.

Mark Matheson (Summerside, PEI) chipped in a double-double - 10 points and 11 rebounds - along with five assists and five steals.

Four X-Men scored in double figures, led by Antoine with 24 points. He added three assists, three rebounds and one steal.

Walker collected a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Tristen Ross (Truro, N.S.), off the bench, and Provo scored 12 and 11 points, respectively.

Provo added three rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Kevin Bercy (Kanata, ON) contributed nine points, 10 rebounds and two assists.

The X-Men will be back on the court Wednesday, Jan. 13, when they host the rival Cape Breton University Capers, beginning at 8 p.m., at Oland Centre.

The Varsity Reds will return to action Friday, Jan. 15, at home, when they face the Dalhousie Tigers.

Opening tip-off is set for 8 p.m. in Fredericton.

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