Huskies defeat Capers 84-74 at StFX X-Men Basketball Invitational

Antigonish, N.S. – The Saint Mary's Huskies punched their ticket to the 38^th Annual X-Men Basketball Invitational championship game with an 84-74 win over the Cape Breton University Capers Friday evening at Oland Centre.

The Capers started the game on an 11-3 spurt, keyed by open dunks down low by Kyle Hankins (Burlington, ON) and Christian Affolter (Neuenegg, SUI).

As part of a 15-2 run, the Huskies battled back to take their first lead, on a breakaway lay-up by Theon Reefer (Toronto, ON).

On a last-second pull-up jumper by Kemar Alleyne (Scarborough, ON), the Huskies led 22-18 after one quarter.

Midway through the second quarter, the Huskies took a 31-24, on a put-back lay-up of his own miss by Alleyne.

Culminated by a three-pointer from Jack MacAulay (Charlottetown, PEI), off a dazzling dish from Kenny Jean-Louis (Montreal, QC), the Capers regained the lead at 35-33, after an 11-2 burst.

At the half, the teams were deadlocked 37-37.

MacAulay and Alleyne led their respective teams with 12 points apiece.

In the first two minutes of the third quarter, the Capers took a 46-41 advantage, sparked by another MacAulay shot from downtown.

After falling behind 50-45, midway through the quarter, the Huskies went on a 17-5 run, ignited by an acrobatic lay-up by Brian Rouse (Mississauga, ON) and the interior play of Reefer, to take a 62-55 lead into the final quarter.

In the first three minutes of the fourth quarter, the Huskies extended their edge to 68-59, on the strength of back-to-back three pointers from their player of the game Kordeiro James (Woodbridge, ON).

With less than five minutes left in regulation, after a baseline jumper from Reefer and great defense from Marquis Clayton (Halifax, NS), which helped create a Rouse basket, the Huskies took their largest lead – 77-63.

MacAulay, with another three-point shot, cut the Caper deficit to 79-70, but they could get no closer.

Jean-Louis led Cape Breton, with 18 points, while Alleyne collected a game-high 20.

With the loss, the Capers will play the Holland College Hurricanes in the consolation game Saturday, beginning at 6 p.m.

With the win, the Huskies will battle the host StFX X-Men for the tournament championship. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. 

Source, StFX Communications