The CIS men's basketball nationals celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2013, with the national tournament played in Ottawa. As had been the case at the first nationals in 1963 - and at 23 other tournaments since - the Acadia Axemen were part of the field.
After a 15-5 regular season, Acadia faced Saint Mary's in the playoff semifinals and led almost the entire game en route to a 74-55 victory.
Tyler Scott made five threes and finished with a team-high 19 points. Anthony Ashe added 15 points and 13 rebounds, Owen Klassen 12 points and 12 boards, and Anthony Sears also had 12 points.
The Axemen advanced to the AUBC final against the Cape Breton Capers, 19-1 in the regular season. Acadia led 58-54 after three quarters, but the Capers took the fourth quarter 29-17 for an 83-75 victory.
Klassen led the Axemen with 24 points and eight rebounds. Sean Stoqua added 12 points and seven boards, Ashe 10 points and 11 rebounds, and Sears also finished with 10 points.
As conference runner-up, Acadia again qualified for nationals. For Klassen, Sears, Tom Filgiano and Lauchlan Gale, it would be their third appearance at the Final Eight in as many years. For Ashe, Gale and Stoqua, all Ottawa-area natives, the nationals would serve as a homecoming.
Acadia's quarter-final opponent was the UBC Thunderbirds. Ironically, the Axemen had also opened against UBC at the first nationals back in 1963. As had been the case 50 years before, Acadia left the court winners, this time by an 89-80 score. Tyler Scott had a huge game with 29 points, including seven threes. Klassen added 15 points, Ashe 14 and Sears 10.
The Axemen moved on to face Carleton in the semifinals. It marked the fourth time in Acadia's last five Final Eight appearances that the two teams had met, with Carleton having won all but one.
On this occasion, the final score was 84-69 in Carleton's favour, but Acadia received kudos for their effort and for staying with the Ravens as long as they did. In fact, for a second straight year, Acadia would come closest to the perennial champs of any of their three Final Eight opponents.
Stoqua stepped up with 20 points, 14 in the fourth quarter. Klassen added 17, Ashe 11 and Scott 10.
The Axemen moved on to the third-place game against Ottawa, already guaranteed a higher finish than in 2012. In one of the best games of the tournament, Ottawa prevailed 92-85 in overtime.
Klassen, a tournament all-star, finished with 20 points. Scott added 18, of which 16, including four threes, came in the second half. Ashe contributed 15 points, Sears 11 and Stoqua 10.