CAPERS lose the re-match at StFX

ANTIGONISH, NS - The STFX X-Men roared back into the win column with a convincing 99-67 victory over the visiting Cape Breton University CAPERS on Coach K Court Saturday night. The win avenged Wednesday's loss to the CAPERS, who remain the only AUS team to defeat STFX this season. 

DJ Jackson continued his stellar season with the Blue and White, scoring 32 points with 9 boards. Jackson shared Gabriel Pizza Player of the Game honors with Gatlauk James who also had a big night, with 24 points, 9 rebounds, and six assists.

Tyson Cato led the CAPERS with 23 points, while Stefan Anisko netted 9 for the visitors.  

The X-Men burst out to a 5-0 lead to start the quarter and kept their foot on the pedal for the rest of the stanza. Jackson caught fire quick, dropping 12 points and going 100 per cent from the floor in the quarter.

A big dunk from Liai Tong looked to swing momentum in the CAPERS' favor late, but James drilled a three pointer with five seconds to go to cap off a 12-point lead, 26-14.

Koat Thomas got the STFX home crowd on their feet early in the quarter with an alley-oop dunk, but timely points from Cato cut the lead to 9 halfway through. The X-Men picked up the pace, went on a 13-point run, and went into halftime up by 20 with a 51-31 lead.

A highlight layup and one from Jackson got a cheer from the crowd early, and the fast action boiled over into a bit of a scrum four minutes into the half. The X-Men continued to pour on the points, powered in part by a double-digit lead in rebounds, extending their lead to 30 points at 79-49 with 10 minutes to go. 

The CAPERS kept the fourth quarter close but STFX held on for the win. 

The X-Men next head to Charlottetown to take on the UPEI Panthers at 8 p.m. on Saturday, February 1. The CAPERS are back on the court Friday, January 31, when they head to Wolfville to face the Acadia Axemen at 8 p.m.  

-30-

Recap courtesy Matt Draper, STFX Athletics