Axemen, Badgers to play for CIS title

BY JOHN DECOSTE

NovaNewsNow.com

The Acadia Axemen will go for their first CIS men’s basketball title in 31 years today after stunning the unbeaten Carleton Ravens 82-80 in double overtime Saturday right in Carleton’s own back yard.

For the Ravens, winners of the last five national titles, it marked their first loss to a Canadian opponent all season.

Player of the game Peter Leighton had 23 points for the Axemen, none bigger than a three-pointer off the dribble to tie the score 74-74 and force a second overtime period, which Acadia ended up winning 8-6.

The Axemen led by six with 3:13 left in the second overtime, but saw their lead shrink to one after Carleton, which played from behind all evening, engineered one last comeback. Shawn Berry and Leighton each made one of two foul shots to seal the hard-fought win.

The Axemen turned in an outstanding effort the entire game on both sides of the ball, led by fifth-year senior Achuil Lual, the AUBC Defensive Player of the Year, who held Mike Moser Memorial Trophy winner Aaron Doornekamp to 14 points.

The Ravens had the ball and a chance to win in regulation time, again in the first overtime and finally in the second OT, but on all three occasions, were unable to get off a shot against the Acadia defense.

Playing in front of a large hometown crowd, Carleton knew they were in for a game in the first quarter, which ended with Acadia ahead 19-15. The Ravens won the second quarter 12-9, but still trailed 28-27 at halftime.

The Axemen won the third quarter 26-18 to lead 54-45 entering the final 10 minutes of regulation time, but were outscored 21-12 in the fourth quarter.

Acadia trailed 64-61 with 1:25 left on the clock, but stormed back on baskets by Andrew Kraus and Leo Saintil.

After Stuart Turnbull’s layup off a steal gave Carleton back the lead, Paulo Santana made one of two foul shots with seven seconds left to tie the score and force the first overtime.

Saintil finished with 22 points and nine rebounds, Santana added 15 points and five assists and Kraus had nine points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals before fouling out in overtime. Turnbull and Ryan Bell led Carleton with 18 points each.

Acadia shot 50 per cent from the floor and outrebounded the Ravens 39-33, but continued to have its troubles at the foul line, where the Axemen were just 7-22.

With the win, the Axemen advance to the national final today at 3:30 (EDT) against the Brock Badgers, who defeated Western Ontario 85-75 in the early semifinal.