(FREDERICTON, NB) Chris Spurrell (Quispamsis, NB) dropped a game-high 21 points, the 21st point his 1000th in Atlantic University Sport regular season play, to propel the UNB REDS to a huge 81-68 win over the Acadia Axemen, Friday.
Spurrell earned Subway Player of the Game on his milestone night.
"Shots haven't been falling a lot for me to start this year, so most people probably would have thought it would take me a while [to get to that point]," said Spurrell. "We've started moving the ball and swinging it more, so I got some open looks, so credit to all my teammates, really, and my coaches."
"He's a tough guy, a competitor, a guy who can knock down shots for us and he's one of the few guys who can create his own offence, which is a big piece of our success," said REDS head coach Joe Salerno, on what Spurrell means to his team.
Ibrahima Doumbouya (Calgary, AB) also had a strong game for UNB with 20 points and eight rebounds.
Eli Krausher (Halifax, NS) led the Axemen with 20 points and seven rebounds in a losing effort.
The game was played before 721 masked and fully vaccinated fans at UNB's Currie Center.
UNB came out with a fast start, leading 12-6 in the early minutes and 25-16 after the first quarter.
The Axemen would respond in a big way in the second, opening with a 12-2 run to take the lead 28-27.
Acadia would build off this as they outscored the REDS 24-9 in the frame for a 40-34 half-time lead.
UNB came out with better energy in the second half and 14-6 run to retake the lead 50-46.
Acadia countered with a 7-2 run to make it 53-52, and from there the two sides would wrestle for the lead to end the third quarter, with the Axemen holding a slight 61-59 edge.
The REDS would get the lead back early and for good in the fourth as Doumbouya dropped a huge three-point shot to make it 64-63.
UNB would dominate the game's final stretch, outscoring Acadia 22-7 in the final frame to seal the victory.
The REDS improve to 2-3 with the win while the Axemen drop to 1-4.
The two teams meet again Saturday afternoon at UNB's Currie Center. Game time is 3:00pm.
RECAP BY: Jonathon James/for UNB Athletics
PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics