X-Men take advantage of Panthers’ shaky offence in 72-60 win

By Thomas Becker

It's not easy being a young team. Just ask the UPEI Panthers. 

The youthful squad struggled mightily in the third quarter where they scored just six points and the St. FX X-Men took full advantage, as they came away with a 72-60 win Friday night. 

Subway Player of the Game, Kevin Bercy, was a force in the paint all night for St. FX (9-10) recording a double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds. 

The Panthers (3-16) struggled out of the gate and didn't score their first basket until 5:17 into the quarter, allowing St. FX to jump ahead 10-3. 

Moshe Wadley came off the bench and delivered a much-needed scoring punch, as UPEI trimmed the deficit 16-14 after one. Wadley led all scorers with seven points in the quarter. He finished with 13.

Stefan Vujisic caught fire in the second and scored eight of the Panthers' first 10 points of the frame, pulling them ahead 24-22. The home team opened up a five-point lead before the visiting X-Men trimmed it down to 31-30 at the break. 

Vujisic was the high-point man with 13 of his team-high 17 points at the half, while Bercy and Julius Antoine scored eight apiece for St. FX.

Both teams struggled scoring in the third, but the experienced X-Men squad was still able to put up 15 points, six of which came from Bercy. The Panthers, meanwhile, scored just six on a single field goal and three made free throws. Their slip in offensive productivity helped St. FX take a 45-37 advantage into the fourth.

Momentum was on the visiting team's side and they didn't let up from there. Shots started falling their way and Bercy continued his stellar play, as they came away with the 72-60 final.

UPEI will play their final game of the season at home against the defending champion Dalhousie Tigers on Feb. 24 at 8 p.m.

Photo Credit: Janessa Hogan