Published Dec 03, 2025Last updated 10 hours ago7 minute readRobbie Grant, a third-year guard with the Acadia Axemen, looks to finish with his left hand while being defended by UPEI Panthers forward Nicolas Gonzalez Longarela during AUS men’s basketball action in Wolfville, Nov. 15. Photo by Jason MalloyArticle contentAcadia’s basketball teams are on a mission this season to restore the university’s championship status.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThe Axemen ended the first half of the AUS season in first place at 8-3, giving them the look of a contender for the first time since 2017-18, when they went 15-5. The Axewomen are at 7-4 and in the thick of a tight top tier along with UNB (10-1), UPEI (8-3) and St. F.X. (7-3).Article contentArticle contentArticle contentThe Acadia women’s program has the more impressive recent history compared to the men, comfortably making the playoffs every year since 2015 and winning it all in 2021-22. The Axewomen have four conference banners in the past 13 years, while the men’s team hasn’t finished above .500 since 2017-18Article contentBut a painstaking rebuild over the past few seasons has the Axemen on the verge of levelling up after some agonizing near misses in the playoff race the past two years.Article contentHere’s a complete look at the men’s picture:Article contentAcadia (8-3) – The program hit rock bottom in 2021-22 with a last-place finish at 1-15.Article contentHead coach Mike Leslie made a strategic decision when he officially took over the team at that time to rebuild from the ground up, targeting young players and then investing in their development with the long-term goal of them peaking together.Article contentFour of Acadia’s five starters — Gabe Davignon, Kyle Munro, Robbie Grant and Donovan Reid — are Nova Scotia high school products who entered the program at 18 years old and are now key contributors. It bucks the trend followed by some of the league’s other coaches, who prefer to recruit players in their 20s who have spent their development years in second-tier American programs or other Canadian institutions before dropping right into AUS rotations.Article contentArticle contentBy maturing together, Acadia’s group executes with a cohesion that serves them well against any team in the league. The Axemen adjust well defensively to different setups from opponents and whip the ball around offensively to give them good looks against any style of defence.Article contentLast year’s conference rookie of the year, Ryan Regault, is Acadia’s fifth starter and he and Grant are having breakout years, while Munro and Davignon are the veteran heartbeat. Leslie also trusts his bench more than most, so the Axemen are able to roll out fresh players to maintain their high pace.Article contentAcadia owns the most titles in conference history with 17, but 11 of them came between 1961 and 1978. The Axemen also have the most national titles with three (1965, 1971 and 1977) but they haven’t won an AUS championship since 2012.Article contentSt. F.X. (7-3) – Reigning league MVP D.J. Jackson is dominating again and the X-Men somehow managed to piece together a strong first half despite inconsistent availability from big men Jeff Ngandu and Jayden Webley.Article contentMedium-sized players Phoenyx Wyse, Koat Thomas, Nicolas Niare and Jackson did well to fill the rebounding void, all landing in the top seven in the AUS in that category at the halfway point. But it’s intriguing to wonder what the X-Men might be able to do if they’re fully healthy in the second half and playoffs.Article content Cape Breton Capers’ Stefan Anisko blocks a shot attempt by St. F.X. X-Men’s Phoenyx Wyse during their AUS men’s basketball game earlier this season at the Sullivan Field House in Sydney. SUPPLIED BY VAUGHAN MERCHANT/CBU ATHLETICSArticle contentCape Breton (6-4) – There’s a case to be made the Capers have the deepest group of athletes in the conference.Article contentHead coach Matt Skinn has been experimenting with different combinations as he works new players into openings created by the graduation of program pillars Shakael Price and Tyson Cato.Article contentAmong the players who appear poised for a new level are Aaron Cunningham, Stefan Anisko, Tayshaun Thomas, Tafarian Black and Liai Tong. On the nights when the Capers click, they are exceptionally tough to contain.Article contentUNB (6-5) – The Reds finished first in the pre-season coaches’ poll and there have been several games when they look like they are the team to beat, but they have also let some wins get away from them.Article contentArticle contentSenior point guard Marcus Barnes is at the top of his game again, recently collecting his 1,000th career point, and Connor Landell may be the most impactful big in the conference. Eden Otshudi, Brandon Laryea, Mark Tobin and Mathias Muscroft lead a talented support group, so finding consistency will be UNB’s big priority in the second half.Article contentDalhousie (5-6) – The Tigers took their first step back in 2024-25 after a decade and a half of excellence.Article contentHead coach Rick Plato worked several new faces into his system last year after the departures of Malcolm Christie, Nginyu Ngala and Sam Maillet but the new players are finding notable chemistry with this year’s crop of newcomers.Article contentFifth-year guard Lydell Husbands is providing excellent leadership for the rapidly maturing Tigers, who went 4-1 in their final games of the first half, punctuated by a dismantling of the Saint Mary’s Huskies in their finale.Article contentArticle contentMemorial (4-6) – No one gave the Sea-Hawks much hope after the loss of star Flynn Boardman-Raffet but they’re capitalizing on their home court to stay in the mix.Article contentVeterans Norm Burry, Jodick Moudiandambu, Andrew Robinson and Josh Reimer have been the glue so far.Article contentUPEI (4-7) – It’s virtually impossible to replace players like Kamari Scott and Daniel Gonzalez Longarela, who were lynchpins for last year’s AUS championship team.Article contentBut a combination of grit and timely scoring from the guard position has the Panthers hanging tough in the playoff race.Article contentSaint Mary’s (2-8) – A stretch of mediocrity that started before the COVID-19 shutdown has gotten downright bleak for SMU.Article contentThe Huskies haven’t finished higher than third since the 2018-19 season and have just one playoff win since 2020, a far cry from the program’s glory days in past eras.Article contentSaint Mary’s has a glaring size weakness this year, putting immense pressure on mid-sized forwards Devawn White and Dawson John. Without those two-way stalwarts overachieving at both ends of the court against much bigger opponents, the Huskies would be in even more danger of missing the playoffs than they already are.Article contentOn the women’s side, the AUS is wide open again after three straight years of Saint Mary’s dominance.Article contentThe Huskies won the banner in 2023, 2024 and 2025 but are in the early stages of a youth movement.Article content Cape Breton Capers’ Amanda Cruickshank looks for a shot as UNB Reds’ Katie McAffee tries to defend during AUS women’s basketball action at Cape Breton University’s Sullivan Field House earlier this season. – SUPPLIED BY VAUGHAN MERCHANT/CBU ATHLETICSArticle contentUNB (10-1) – The Reds are averaging 74.1 points per game, nearly seven better than Acadia’s second-place offence.Article contentKylee Speedy is the top scorer with 11.9 PPG and Maheva Ngassam and Zoe Olscamp are among the league leaders in rebounding. UNB’s 40.3 field percentage also leads the league and the only blemish so far is an 83-69 loss to the Axewomen on Nov. 14. The Reds rolled into the break on a four-game winning streak.Article contentUPEI (8-3) – Grace Lancaster sets the offensive tone, averaging 16 points per game to put her fourth in the AUS.Article contentHer 64 field goals are the most in the conference and the Panthers only have one loss in their past nine games. They lost two games at UNB in a back-to-back set earlier in the season so a key weekend to watch is Jan. 16-17, when the Reds visit Charlottetown for a doubleheader.Article contentArticle contentSt. F.X. (7-3) – Offensive balance is the name of the game for the X-Women.Article contentThey have five players in the league’s top 23 in scoring but none in the top 10. Kristine Cooper leads them at 11.8 PPG but she and third-leading scorer Mikaela James have missed four games each. Shannon Neita, Mali Straker and Ava MacNutt join those two in X’s scoring core.Article contentAcadia (7-4) – Outside of a two-point loss to Memorial early in the season, the Axewomen have only been defeated by fellow contenders UNB, X and UPEI.Article contentSami Russell is compiling an MVP-calibre season with 16.9 PPG (second in the league) and nine rebounds per outing (third). German guard Bianca Helmig is averaging 13.8 PPG in another strong campaign and Sarah Delorey is hauling down 8.7 rebounds per game and is fourth in blocks with 12.Article content Acadia Axewomen guard Bianca Helmig drives between two St. F.X. X-Women defenders during Atlantic University Sport basketball action in Wolfville, Nov. 7. Photo by Jason MalloyArticle contentThe Axewomen won the AUS championship in 2012, 2018, 2019 and 2022.Article contentArticle contentSaint Mary’s (4-6) – In addition to their current three-title reign, the Huskies also had a four-year streak from 2013 to 2016.Article contentBetween those seven championships and Acadia’s recent four, 11 of the past 13 banners belong to those two schools. But the Huskies were heavy on seniors in 2024-25 so something had to give.Article contentThere are no third-year players on this year’s team and Emily Dikdan, Angong Jacob and Lauren Armstrong are the only seniors so they have to carry a heavy load. Filling out the roster are eight rookies and three second-year players.Article contentBut even with that much youth in the mix, the Huskies still managed to win their final two games before the holiday break and are in position to make the playoffs.Article contentMemorial (3-7) – Brooke Ledevehat (sixth in AUS scoring with 14.1 PPG) and Serena Phillips (eighth with 13.6 PPG) drive the offence.Article contentThe Sea-Hawks are close to two decades removed from their heyday when they won six AUS championships between 2000 and 2008Article contentDalhousie (2-9) – The Tigers haven’t had a winning record since 2014-15 and have not won more than two games in a season since 2018-19.Article contentDal only produced three total wins out of a combined 73 games over the past four seasons so the two wins so far this year actually represent progress.Article contentMadelyn White is third in the league in scoring (16.6 PPG) and the Tigers are just two points back of the sixth-place Sea-Hawks for a playoff spot so there is hope at Dalhousie for the first time in a while.Article contentCape Breton (1-9) – A bright spot in Sydney is the play of Amanda Cruickshank, who leads the AUS in scoring (17.4 PPG).Article contentAlicia Bowering also tops the league in three-point efficiency, converting 24 of her 58 attempts for a 41.8 per cent success rate.Article content
AUS basketball: Acadia’s teams gunning for return to championship glory
