X-Men hold off late Capers surge to take 96-95 victory

ANTIGONISH, NS - A 60-point first half helped the STFX X-Men to a tense 96-95 win over the visiting Cape Breton Capers on Coach K Court on Friday night. The X-Men, now at 5-2 on the season, are tied in points with the Capers, who boast a 5-2 record as well. 

Gabriel Pizza Player of the game Phoenix Wyse had 19 points and six rebounds for STFX, while DJ Jackson had 26.

Capers player of the game Stefan Anisko had 25 on the night, with Oroma Bongomin dropping 17.  

The teams battled hard in the opening quarter, with five different X-Men hitting shots from beyond the arc, pulling ahead them ahead 30-16 after the first 10 minutes. The X-Men also created 14 points off turnovers, while the teams were even in rebounds. 

The high scoring continued in the second quarter, with both sides hitting their shots. Jackson had 19 points in the first half, including three triples, while Bongomin had 10 for the Capers. 

The X-Men built up a 15-point lead at halftime, 60-45.

Momentum shifted as CBU opened the third quarter with a 14-7 run, with Anisko hitting a pair of deep threes. The Capers continued to pour it on, pulling within a point of the X-Men, but an alley-oop from Jackson to Koat Thomas kept STFX on top as they moved to the final quarter up 74-68.

Five unanswered points early in the final quarter extended the STFX lead to 11 points. Cape Breton kept fighting and pulled within three points with a minute to go, thanks to another triple from Anisko. Cardy Jean hit a last second three-pointer for the Capers, but STFX pulled out the 96-95 win. 

The X-Men return to action next Friday, November 21, when they visit the Saint Mary's Huskies in Halifax.

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Recap courtesy Matt Draper