(WOLFVILLE, N.S.) - The Acadia Axemen (2-3) faced off against the Saint Mary's Huskies (2-3) in Thursday night basketball action at War Memorial Gymnasium.
The Axemen and Huskies were tied based on points in the AUS standings before tonight's matchup, but a 73-62 Saint Mary's win will give them the edge over Acadia in the standings.
The Axemen jumped out to a 10-5 lead in the first quarter but it would not be sustained for long as Saint Mary's ended the frame on a 12-2 run. Aaron Fisher's dunk at the 1:41 mark of the first frame would be the start of a Huskie lead that would be held onto until the final buzzer.
Saint Mary's held a 17-12 lead heading into the second frame of action.
In the second, the Huskies would stretch their lead outscoring Acadia by 10 points. As the halftime ended, Saint Mary's pulled out to a 38-23 lead. A 7-0 Huskies run in the middle of the third would increase their lead to a 56-37 advantage entering the final frame.
Behind 12 points in the final quarter, the Axemen an Axeman rally led by Sean Stoqua outscored Saint Mary's 25-17 in the last frame, but it was not enough to overcome a 19 point deficit.
Stoqua had 16 points on the night and added four steals and three assists. Acadia's Subway player of the game Rhys Larry came up huge for the Axemen with the double-double including 12 points and 17 rebounds, nine on the offensive glass. Shaquille Smith added 15 for Acadia.
Third-year forward Aaron Fisher had six points in the first frame for Saint Mary's and 17 on the night, while Subway player of the game Osman Barrie added 19 points and eight rebounds while Marquis Clayton chipped in 18 points of his own.
The Axemen were a dismal 25.7 per cent from the floor in the first half compared to the Huskies' 38.9 per cent. By the end of the game, Acadia posted a field goal percentage of 32.4 per cent, while the Huskies had a 46.2 per cent game ending field goal percentage.
Saint Mary's out-scored Acadia 26-14 in points in the paint, but were well below par from the distant arc, shooting 2-for-11.
Acadia will return to War Memorial Gymnasium Jan. 10 taking on StFX to start the new year and then will head to Halifax Jan. 13 to face Saint Mary's.
Saint Mary's will open up the new year against UNB during their Shoot for the Cure weekend in a pair of games.
Source: Ashley Hasley for Acadia Sports Information