Huskies top X-Men 93-73

(ANTIGONISH, N.S.) - Led by Subway player of the game Marquis Clayton (Halifax, N.S.), the Saint Mary's Huskies cruised to a 93-73 victory over the StFX X-Men in AUS basketball action Wednesday night.

More than 500 fans turned out for the Shoot the Cure fundraiser in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation at Oland Centre.

After playing to a tie after one quarter (19-19), the Huskies outscored the X-Men 26-9 in the second quarter en route to a 43-26 halftime advantage.

Clayton scored 13 points for the visitors, while adding eight assists, seven rebounds and six steals.

Osman Barrie (Ottawa, Ont.) and Brian Rouse (Mississauga, Ont.) scored a game-high 23 points apiece to lead the Huskies. With 11 rebounds, Barrie completed his second double-double in as many games against the X-Men. The sophomore forward, who was a perfect 10-of-10 from the field, added one blocked shot and one assist, while Rouse chipped in six rebounds, five assists and one steal.  

After the X-Men trimmed the Huskies lead to 13 to start the second half, the Huskies hit five consecutive three-pointers, including three from Kadeem Thompson (Toronto, Ont.), off the bench, to help stretch out the lead, which reached as high as 28 in the third quarter.

The X-Men, who outscored the Huskies 22-17 in the fourth quarter, cut the lead to as few as 16 in the final minutes, but they could get no closer.

Sophomore forward Cameron Walker (Dallas, Texas) led the X-Men with 19 points, while adding seven rebounds.

"We have four games left and the most important thing is we have to stick together as a team," he said after the game.  "We can't stop playing hard."

Second-year guard Julius Antoine (Woodbridge, Ont.) scored 15 points for StFX, while adding nine rebounds and two assists. Guard Jameel Williamson (Pickering, Ont.) led the X-Men with six assists and five steals, while chipping in 13 points.

Fifth-year senior forward Shane Coupland (Brisbane, Australia) also hit double digits with 12 points, while contributing four rebounds.

The X-Men and Huskies collected 32 rebounds apiece, while StFX had 17 turnovers compared to 15 for Saint Mary's.

With the win, the Huskies improve to 8-6, while the X-Men fall to 4-12.

The Huskies return to action this weekend when they host the Memorial Sea-Hawks twice in Halifax.

The X-Men will be back on the court Tuesday, Feb. 10, when they host the Dalhousie Tigers at Oland Centre. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m.

Source: StFX Sports Communications