(ANTIGONISH, N.S.) - The StFX X-Men (2-5) outscored the CIS No. 6-ranked UNB Varsity Reds (6-2) by nine points in the fourth quarter to secure an 82-77 victory in AUS basketball action Saturday evening .
More than 700 fans at Oland Centre watched Subway player of the game Julius Antoine (Woodbridge, Ont.) score a game-high 27 points, while sophomore forward Cameron Walker (Dallas, Texas) added 23.
"This is great - we were dying for a win. We really needed this," Walker, who completed the double-double with 11 rebounds, said after the game.
Antoine added five rebounds, five steals and four assists in the winning effort.
X-Men guard Davonte Provo (East Preston, N.S.) also hit double figures with 10 points, while adding four assists, one steal and one rebound, while Jameel Williamson (Pickering, Ont.) chipped in eight points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Javon Masters (Kitchener, Ont.) led the Varsity Reds with 21 points, while adding eight assists, two rebounds and one steal.
Forward Nikola Mandic (Belgrade, Serbia) contributed 20 points, eight rebounds, two steals and one assist, while Ryan Smith (Dalhousie, N.B.) chipped in 12 points, seven rebounds, two steals and one assist.
The teams were tied 39-39 at halftime and UNB held a 63-59 edge after the third quarter.
"Defence," Walker said, when asked about the keys to the win over UNB, noting the effort the X-Men gave in both transition and half-court defence.
The game marked the final one of the first half of the AUS season as teams break for the holidays. The X-Men will be competing in Dalhousie Rod Shoveller tournament in Halifax January 2 to 4. They open exhibition play against UPEI Friday at 1 p.m.
The X-Men return to the court for AUS regular season action when they host the rival Cape Breton University Capers Tuesday, Jan. 6. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. at Oland Centre.
The Varsity Reds will be back in action Friday, Jan. 9, when the Saint Mary's Huskies visit Fredericton.
Source: StFX Sports Information