X-Men Hold Off REDS

(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS were narrowly defeated 73-70 by the STFX X-Men in Atlantic University Sport Men's Basketball action on Saturday afternoon at UNB's Richard J. Currie Center.

The game started with the X-Men taking an early lead, but Marcus Barnes (Kitchener, ON) put the REDS on the board, cutting the early deficit to 5-2. 

Matthias Muscroft (Sussex, NB) hit a three-pointer to tie the game 7-7 and Reese Zorogole (Halifax, NS) later followed with another three to make it 18-18 at the end of the first quarter.

The X-Men regained the lead early in the second, but UNB fought back, with another Muscroft basket giving the REDS a 25-23 lead. 

The REDS led 34-31 at half-time.

The third quarter saw Barnes extend the UNB lead to 36-31, and Mitchell added a basket to push it to 42-37. 

STFX's Koat Thomas (Waterloo, ON) narrowed the gap with foul shots, but the REDS finished the quarter ahead 55-50.

In the fourth, the X-Men used a late 12-2 run to tie the game at 70-70 with 51 seconds left. 

DJ Jackson (Mississauga, ON) then scored the go-ahead basket, putting STFX up 72-70.

A late made foul shot by Keyonte Beals (North Preston, NS) made it 73-70, and despite the REDS' best efforts, the X-Men escaped with the win.

Beals led the X-Men with 19 points, while Jackson added 18 and 11 rebournds. Thomas finished the day with 12 points and 13 rebounds.

Eden Otshudi (Hamilton, ON) scored 19 points in UNB's losing effort, with Javordo Mitchell adding 13 and nine rebounds for UNB. Connor Landell (St. Catherines, ON) also had nine rebounds.

With this loss, UNB drops to a 1-5 record while STFX improves to 5-1.

The REDS will travel to Acadia for an 8:00pm matchup on Friday evening. The X-Men will host UPEI on Saturday, with that game scheduled for 8:00pm.

RECAP BY: Annabelle Jewett/for UNB Athletics

PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics