Scott, Colley lead the way as Panthers roll past Axemen 76-60

By Thomas Becker

The UPEI Panthers handled their business and led wire-to-wire for a stress-free 76-60 win over the Acadia Axemen Saturday night.

The final score wasn't nearly indicative of the Panthers' dominance throughout the game, as they carried a 34-point lead at one point late in the third quarter.

Their defence was a big reason why they came out on top. Through 30 minutes of play, UPEI held Acadia to just 38 points on 30.7 per cent shooting before a sloppy fourth quarter narrowed the gap some. 

The stars of the game were undoubtedly UPEI's dynamic duo, Kamari Scott and Jace Colley. Together, they were an offensive powerhouse, contributing a combined 41 points on an efficient 18-of-26 from the field. Scott led the charge with 22 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and a block, while Colley was close behind with 19 points, seven rebounds, and four blocks. Their performances were pivotal in establishing and maintaining the lead for the Panthers (4-5).

For Scott, it was arguably his most complete game of the season.

"As the quarterback of this team, I know I have to be more consistent on both ends of the court, and hopefully, this is just the start."

Adding an interesting subplot to the game was the return of former Panther, Glex Cox, who now dons Acadia's colours. Cox's homecoming was marred by difficulty as he struggled against his former team's relentless defence. The conference's leading scorer managed to score just 14 points, 10 of which came from the free throw line.

After the game, Scott mentioned how the talk leading up to the anticipated matchup was about limiting Cox.

"Our task was to lock down Glen. He's obviously their motor. When he goes, they go, and we knew we needed to stop him," Scott said. "It was a good week of preparation that built up to this win."

UPEI's defence was at its best in the opening quarter, where they held their opponent to just five points on a single made field goal. They also forced 12 turnovers in the frame, leading to eight points the other way. On the offensive end, Colley and Scott were aggressive in their attacks to the basket and combined for 13 first-quarter points, while Sam Chisholm scored five of his nine off the bench, as the Panthers led 21-5 after one.

After the Axemen (4-5) scored the first two baskets of the second quarter, the Panthers responded with seven straight points to push the lead to 28-9. The two teams traded baskets in the ensuing minutes before a Scott three-pointer, followed by four consecutive points from Kyree Thompson made it 47-19 at halftime. Scott had a game-high 13 points and five rebounds at the break, while Colley had 11 with three blocks. 

UPEI's Cameron Brown came to life in the third quarter, where he hammered down three dunks, the second of which made it a 30-point game at the 3:26 mark. After a Scott layup extended the lead to 62-28, the Axemen closed the quarter on a 10-2 run but still trailed big, 64-38.

At that point, the Panthers took their foot off the pedal and the Axemen took advantage, outscoring their opponent 22-12 in the fourth quarter. Cox led the way with eight points in the frame in an otherwise forgettable night for the third-year guard and his team.

Both teams return to the hardwood for more regular season action in the New Year.

Photo Credit: Janessa Vanden Broek