(HALIFAX, N.S.) - After taking an early lead, the STFX X-Men (1st seed) never looked back en route to winning an AUS title with a 104-54 win over the UPEI Panthers (2nd seed).
The STFX X-Men started the 2023 Subway AUS Men's Basketball Championship final with a seven-point run to open the scoring. Avan Nava (Mississauga, Ont.) nailed a three-pointer seven seconds in and had eight points in the first quarter to help the X-Men double the Panthers 26-13 in the first quarter. Nava finished the game with 16 points and was named to the tournament all-star team.
STFX's David Muenkat (Brampton, Ont.) was named the tournament's most valuable player and named to the tournament all-star team after a stellar weekend, including 15 points and 10 rebounds in the final where he was named the X-Men's Subway player of the game. No stranger to awards, Muenkat was a first team all-star and the AUS defensive player of the year in the regular season.
This is the 13th AUS championship for the X-Men, with the last coming in 2006 when the program dominated the sport with six championships in seven seasons.
While the Panthers struggled to get baskets early on, third-year guard Kamari Scott (Malton, Ont.) did find success with six points in the opening quarter, including taking advantage of a missed X-Men dunk with an immediate basket at the other end.
Prowess in the paint gave the X-Men the jump early in the second quarter as the team continued to draw fouls and make the ensuing free throws. A 12-point run included five points from the foul line. Overall STFX finished 17 for 25 (68%) from the foul line.
STFX went back to the dressing room at halftime with a 55-22 lead with contributions from throughout the lineup, including nine different players putting up points.
On the Panthers side, Kamari Scott had six points and three rebounds, but regular season most valuable player and first team all-star Elijah Miller (Rexdale, Ont.) was unable to make any shot attempts.
The X-Men picked up where they left off in the second half, with second team all-star Deon Ejim (Brampton, Ont.) starting off a run of seven unanswered points to start the third quarter.
Late in the third quarter, the Panthers made a push and Elijah Miller was able to get on the board with a three-point shot. After three quarters, STFX led 83-38.
Both teams looked to their benches late in the game as younger players gained valuable experience for the future. STFX had 38 bench points while UPEI's bench was responsible for 31.
First-year guard Daren Clarke (Hamilton, Ont.) was the Subway player of the game for the Panthers, leading the team with 12 points.
Second team all-star Dondre Reddick (Antigonish, N.S.) finished the game with 14 points and was named to the tournament all-star team alongside his teammates Avan Nava and David Muenkat. UPEI's Elijah Miller and Ozzy Omar of the Cape Breton CAPERS were also named to the all-star team.
Next, the champions host the U SPORTS Final 8 in Halifax from March 10-12. As AUS finalists, the Panthers receive the second Atlantic conference berth at the national championship.
Source: Jonathan Briggins for Atlantic University Sport