CIS No. 2-ranked Capers top X-Men, advance to AUS championship game

(HALIFAX, N.S.) - The top-seeded Cape Breton Capers overpowered the fifth-seeded StFX X-Men 80-70 in Subway AUS semifinal action Saturday night at the Halifax Metro Centre.

With the win, the Capers advance to Sunday's Subway AUS championship game.

Second-year forward Meshack Lufile was named Subway Player of the Game, collecting 18 points and six rebounds to go along with two blocks.

X-Men fifth-year forward Jeremy Dunn had a game-high 23 points and eight rebounds in a losing effort.

Both teams traded chances throughout the first quarter but it was the X-Men who came out on top after the first ten minutes outscoring the Capers 20-16.

Fifth-year guard and offensive catalyst Tyrell Vernon led the charge for the X-Men setting up two crucial baskets that put the blue and white ahead heading into the second quarter.

The No.2-ranked Capers came back with a vengeance in the second, outscoring the X-Men 24-16 to take a 44-36 lead into the second half.

Second-year forward Meshack Lufile was a difference maker for the Capers as he notched a team-high eight points in the quarter to go along with a huge block on X-Men forward Jeremy Dunn that electrified fans in the Halifax Metro Centre.

Cape Breton continued their hot play from the first half into the third quarter as they matched the X-men shot for shot to outscore them 17-16. Third-year forward Sean McCormick paced the Capers attack collecting five points in the quarter.

The high-octane offense expected of the two teams shone through in the fourth quarter with each scoring 20 points apiece. The X-Men started the quarter on a 17-7 run off the backs of strong play from veterans Vernon and Dunn, but it was the AUS first-seeded Capers who eventually came out on top, neutralizing the X-Men attack late in the quarter and coming away with an 80-70 victory.

Capers forward Sean McCormick was 8-11 from field-goal range and produced 19 points to help the Capers advance to the AUS championship game while Vernon provided consistent offense for the X-Men scoring 19 points in the loss.

The Capers will now face the winner of Saturday night's second semifinal between Saint Mary's and Acadia in the championship final afternoon at 2p.m.

Source: Jamie Kelly, AUS Communications
Photo Courtesy of Nick Pearce (www.123photo.ca)