Panthers hand No. 2-ranked Axemen first loss of regular season

(WOLFVILLE, N.S.) - The CIS No. 2-ranked Acadia Axemen were handed their first loss of the regular season Saturday night and drop to 6-1 following a 84-69 home loss to the UPEI Panthers.

The Axemen were without all-Canadian forward Owen Klassen due to an injury suffered during exhibition play over the holiday break, and also had to play without all-star forward Anthony Sears, who is still "day-to-day", recovering from ankle surgery.

Deontay Smith captured Subway Player of the Game honours with 16 points and 13 rebounds, while teammates Terrence Brown and Mandrez Downey added 17 and 16 points each respectively.

Taking a commanding 22-14 lead after one quarter, the Panthers pushed the lead to 32-20 just four minutes into the second frame.

Closing the UPEI lead to 35-31 at the end of the first half, Acadia remained in a trailing position for the entire second half, narrowing the lead to five points at the five minute mark of the final quarter.

Out-rebounding the Axemen 64-48, the loss of leading rebounder Klassen was noticeable. Tom Filgiano led the Axemen with nine rebounds - seven of which were defensive, while Tyler Scott added eight.

Head coach Stephen Baur was optimistic that the weeks ahead will be an adjusting period for the Axemen.

"The importance of execution and trusting each other is a highlight right now, and we were lacking in both areas. Defensively we have to be better. Our last two games, we have allowed people to get to where they want, thus creating good shot opportunities for them and us in bad positions to rebound. Owen would bail us out of those situations before, so now we have to be better as a group in defending the possession and then ending the possession with rebounding".

Offensively, the Axemen fell short of their 80 points per game average.

"We have offensive talent on the roster, we just now have to all get on the same page of where and when we want shots coming from," pointed out Baur. "As a group we will grow quickly in the next couple of weeks, and it will help us immensely at the end of February and March if we can improve in this time".

The Axemen will remain home, hosting the red hot Dalhousie Tigers who recently won the Rod Shoveller Tournament and picked up their first regular season win in 2013 against StFX.

The Panthers will next play host to the 2-5 Saint Mary's Huskies.

Saturday night's game, worth four points in the standings, drops Acadia to second place, trailing the Cape Breton Capers by four points, while the Panthers hold onto third place with 12 points - four behind Acadia.

Source: Acadia Sports Information