The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

CANADIAN colleges and universities continued with their second weekend of play out of the holiday break at both the U-Sports and Canadian Colleges Athletic Association levels.

Azaro Roker posted career highs to help St Francis Xavier X-Men end a five-game losing streak and return to the win column.

Roker finished with a double double - 17 points and 17 rebounds - in a 78-74 win over the UPEI Panthers. He shot 6-12 from the field and also added four assists, two steals and two blocked shots en route to being named the Subway Player of the Game.

The X-Men improved to 4-7 on the season.

The Panthers were up 37-28 with 1:42 remaining in the first half before the X-Men quickly scored nine unanswered points and went into the break down by one.

“This being a young team, we really needed this win,” said X-Men head coach Steve Konchalski. “We expected a tough, emotional game and I’m glad we got it.” Qyemah Gibson and the St Mary’s Huskies continue to be the hottest team in U Sports basketball and ran their winning streak to 12 consecutive games. Gibson finished with eight points and four rebounds in the Huskies’ 72-63 win over the Memorial Sea-Hawks.

Jordan Wilson, Shamar Burrows and the Dalhousie Tigers were less fortunate against the Panthers and suffered a 70-67 loss in their matchup. Wilson had 13 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals while Burrows added seven points and seven rebounds.

Tigers coach Darrell Glenn said: “It’s a special win. Our backs are up against a wall and we wanted to get four points out of this weekend.”

Trevon Grant and the remainder of the Acadia Axemen struggled in an 82-56 loss to Cape Breton. Grant was just 1-8 from the field and finished with five points.

Leashja Grant and the No.10 ranked Lakehead Thunderwolves lost consecutive games for the first time this season after they fell short, 70-67 to No.4 McMaster University.

Lakehead was led by Leashja Grant’s 28 points, 16 rebounds, five assists, and three steals. McMaster led 21-10 at the end of the first and 36-23 at the half. They outscored McMaster by 10 in the second half, coming away with a three-point win and a weekend sweep.

In the CCAA, Roosevelt Whylly and the Holland Hurricanes improved to 11-0 on the season. Whylly led the ‘Canes offence with a game-high 26 points while adding four rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block in a 109-80 win over the St Thomas Tommies.

Van Hutchinson Jr continues to post outstanding numbers in his career year for the Niagara Knights. He finished one assist shy of a triple-double with 32 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists in his team’s 103-90 win over the St Clair Saints. Kevin Cooper had three points off the bench.

The Knights improved to 10-3 on the season.

Head coach Phil Mosley was happy with his team’s performance but says they still have some stuff to work on. “We played well in spurts but need to be more consistent through four quarters,” said Mosley. “A different guy is stepping up each game and we feel that will pay off for us heading into the final stage of the season.

Samson Cleare returned to form with eight points and seven rebounds to help his NAIT Ooks improve to 8-8 with eight points and seven rebounds in an 87-70 win over Alberta-Augustana.