The highs and lows of the Axemen’s weekend
Next home game is Nov. 24. against StFX
Every second mattered in this close home-opener between the Acadia Axemen and the UPEI Panthers, but it was the Panthers who came out on top 71-69.
The Axemen spent much of the first and second quarter playing from behind, but the hard work of Acadia scorers Junior Moaku-Matia and Nick De Palma ensured the Axemen would not be left behind.
Moaku-Matia ended the game 18 points and five rebounds and was named the Axemen’s Player of the Game.
After an energetic second quarter, the score was tied 37-37. A large portion of the Panthers’ points from the first half was from their six successful three-pointers.
The scoring differential remained low right down to the last few minutes. It could have been anyone’s game.
With eight seconds left to play, the Axemen remained behind by a mere point. An untimely foul by the Panthers gave De Palma two chances from the free throw line to tie or win the game, but both were missed. The Panthers responded with two foul shots of their own, bringing their lead to three.
In a last-second effort, Jacques Lukusa made a desperation shot from deep that drew a foul, award- ing him three foul shots. Lukusa was successful on his second shot, and his third was almost tipped in off his rebound, but luck was not with the Axemen.
The Panthers kept their lead until the buzzer, giving them the 71-69 victory.
Panther Amin Sulemen posted 12 points, grabbing four rebounds, and added three assists for the Panthers. His well-rounded play secured him the Subway Player of the Game award.
The Axemen were only five for 32 attempts from behind the arch. Trevon Grant and Nick De Palma added 14 and 13 points, respectively.
In the Axemen’s second matchup against the Panthers on Saturday night, the first quarter belonged to Junior Moaku-Matia and the Axemen, as they lead 23-15 after 10 minutes. MaokuMatia had 11 points in the quarter and finished the game with 22, shooting 10 for 11 from the field.
Both teams found themselves in the zone in the first half, each cashing in on nearly 50 per cent of their shots from the field and from three.
The Panthers drew closer and narrowed the gap to within one point by the end of the half, bringing the score to 42-41.
Dakelle Brooks of the Panthers lead the team offensively, scoring 19 points and dishing out two assists. Brooks was the Panthers’ Subway Player of the Game.
The Axemen exploded on a 15point run before the end of the third quarter. Three successful three-point shots in a row gave the Axemen back the lead they had in the first half.
The Panthers would try to answer with a 10-point run of their own, but the effort was too little, too late, as they could not compose a full comeback against the Axemen.
The final score of the game was 92-81 for Acadia – the first AUS regular season win for the Axemen.
Axeman Ben Miller finished with a game-high 23 points, 15 of those coming from three-point shots.
The Axemen improve to 1-4 and return home after next weekend’s two games in Newfoundland against Memorial. The next home game is Nov. 24 at 8:00 p.m. against StFX.
The Panthers play their next game at home Friday against Saint Mary’s University.