X-Men defeat Capers in AUS basketball action

(Antigonish, N.S.) - The StFX X-Men improved to 6-4 on the season with a 68-56 victory over the Cape Breton Capers Tuesday evening at the StFX Oland Centre. The Capers fall to 3-6.

Leading the X-Men in scoring was veteran fifth-year guard Will Donkoh with 16 points. He also led the team in rebounding with eight. Donkoh chipped in two assists and four steals as the X-Men held the lead for the majority of the game.

The blue and white were up 14-12 after the first quarter and 29-23 at halftime.

Subway Player of the Game Jordan Clarke scored 11 points on the evening for the X-Men and had four rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocks.

Shane Coupland was 3-for-5 from three-point range as he contributed 13 points in the win. Julius Antoine added nine points.

The X-Men outscored the Capers 39-33 in the second half to hold onto the victory.

Cedric Kasongo scored 13 points for Cape Breton and Meshack Lufile posted 12 points and had six rebounds. Sean McCormick pulled in 11 boards for the Capers.

X-Men head coach Steve Konchalski commented, "It was one of those wins where the stats sheet doesn't really look pretty, nor did it look pretty on the court. It was a heavyweight fight with two teams going at it and I was proud of our guys for sticking with it and coming out with the win in a very physical game against one of our big rivals."

Next on the AUS schedule for the X-Men is a game in Halifax on Friday, Jan. 17 against the Dalhousie Tigers (2-7). The match will be worth four points in the standings and tip-off is slated for 8 p.m. at the Dalplex.

The Capers will host the Saint Mary's Huskies (7-3) on Saturday, Jan. 18 at Sullivan Field House in Sydney.