Reds Rally, Edge Axemen In OT

(WOLFVILLE, NS) The UNB Reds won their second game of the weekend, beating the Acadia Axemen 77-75, in overtime.

The Axemen exploded for 28 points in the first quarter, giving them a double-digit lead after 10 minutes.

With a 28-16 Acadia lead heading into the second, the Reds responded quickly with a 10-2 run, cutting Acadia's lead to four.

The second quarter ended with Acadia up 42-30.

Acadia's Jack Tilley (Quispamsis, NB) put up 11 points in the first half, including three of four from the field, two for three from three, and three for three from the foul line.

The third quarter, like the second, was close, but the Axemen held a 59-48 advantage after three.

Both teams had multiple players with three-plus fouls, forcing the coaches to pick their lineups strategically for the remainder of the game.

The Reds were able to scrape their way back into the game, and tied the score with four minutes to play.

With 21 seconds remaining, the Axemen were down three. Marcus Upshaw (Burlington, ON) was able to lay it in and bring the Axemen within 1 with 14 seconds on the clock.

When the Reds went to inbound the ball, Brett Speedy (Fredericton, NB) stole the ball and drew a foul, sending him to the line for two. He would only hit one, tying the game at 70.

As the Reds went to bring up the ball, Acadia got another steal and Upshaw had a chance to end the game on a mid-range jump shot, but his shot did not drop. The Axemen and the Reds would need overtime to decide a winner.

UNB took the early lead in overtime, but Acadia was right with them for the entire five minutes, never going down by more than a basket.

Down by two, Acadia could not get a good shot off and the Reds won 77-75.

"A tough loss. I was proud of how our guys responded after last night," said Acadia head coach Kevin Duffie. "We played great team basketball and gave ourselves a great chance to win that game. Credit to UNB for hanging tough and outlasting us tonight."

Ibrahima Doumbouya (Calgary, AB) played a huge role in the win for the Reds, scoring 24 points and grabbing 18 rebounds. He was named the Subway Player of the Game.

Matur Maluach (Sydney, Australia) added 16 points for the Reds.

Upshaw led the Axemen with 16 points.

Acadia will visit St FX on Friday, while the Reds host the UPEI Panthers on Saturday.

RECAP BY: Theodore Giesen/for Acadia Athletics

PHOTOS BY: Peter Oleskevich/for Acadia Athletics