Halifax, NS – The St. Francis Xavier University X-Men defeated the Queen’s University Gaels 107-98 in the U SPORTS Final 8 at Scotiabank Centre on Friday night.
It was a display of complete dominance for the X-Men, holding a 20-point lead going into the fourth quarter. This was due to the excellent start in the first quarter for the X-Men, as they led by 20 at the end of the first.
“Once they get going, they’re a freight train; that was the case in the first quarter,” said Gaels head coach and U SPORTS Coach of the Year Stephan Barrie.
However, the Gaels cut it to single digits in the fourth quarter.
“Credit to them, they stayed in the game; they didn’t give up. They showed their true heart. I feel like we took our foot off the gas towards the end,” said David Muenkat, the U SPORTS Defensive Player of the Year.
Muenkat left the game in the fourth quarter due to an ankle injury with 5:16 left. StFX’s star returned to the game with 2:05 left and had a crucial block with 54 seconds left of the game.
“My team needed me. I got to do what I got to do for my team. If I can walk, I can play,” said Muenkat.
Muenkat finished with 27 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 steals in the win. Deon Ejim was massive as he chipped in 19 points and 10 rebounds.
Cole Syllas starred for the Gaels, putting up 18 points, 14 rebounds and 9 assists.
StFX plays in the semi final tomorrow at 8 p.m. AST.
The Gaels will play in tomorrow’s consolation semi-final at 2 p.m. AST.
“We’re going to fight. We still have our one senior [Connor Keefe] that we’re going to play for tomorrow night,” said Syllas.