Huskies edge Axemen in overtime to open AUS season

Acadia

0-2, 0-2

Saint Mary's

2-0, 2-0

Final

Acadia 0-2, 0-2

Saint Mary's 2-0, 2-0

Huskies edge Axemen in overtime to open AUS season

Game Leaders

Acadia

Pts: Glen Cox - 32

Reb: Glen Cox - 14

Ast: 2 Players (#5, #13) - 3

Saint Mary's

Pts: Eliel Nsoseme - 31

Reb: Eliel Nsoseme - 16

Ast: Jasha'jaun Downey - 4

Team Stats

Acadia

Saint Mary's

Field Goals

(31-75)

(39-78)

Field Goal %

41.3%

50.0%

Rebounds

Assists

Turnovers

Pts off Turnovers

2nd Chance Pts

Pts in the Paint

Fastbreak Pts

Bench Pts

Full stats

October 30, 2024

WOLFVILLE, NS – The Acadia Axemen fell short in a thrilling season opener, losing 98-95 to the Saint Mary's Huskies in overtime at the Homburg Centre in Halifax on Wednesday. Saint Mary's forward Eliel Nsoseme led the charge, finishing with 31 points and 16 rebounds, including the game-winning put-back lay-in in the final seconds.

Nsoseme, a fifth-year forward from Kinshasa, DRC, wasted no time making an impact in his Huskies debut, scoring the game's first four points. Saint Mary's guard Tjark Lademacher (Luneburg, Germany) added quick back-to-back baskets to give the Huskies an early 10-5 edge. Acadia responded with steady play from guard Glen Cox (Scotsburn, NS) and forward Marc Sidione Nkwitcheu (Yaounde, Cameroon), but lay-ups from Huskies' reserves Aidan MacDonald (Timberlea, NS) and Devawn White (Montreal, QC) helped the Huskies pull ahead 26-19 by the end of the first quarter.

The Axemen mounted a second-quarter comeback behind Cox, who scored 12 of his 21 first-half points in the frame. A three-point play by Nsoseme briefly restored the Huskies' lead at 29-27, but Cox continued his strong play to keep the Axemen within striking distance. A late jumper by Huskies guard Jasha'jaun Downey (North Preston, NS) put Saint Mary's up 47-44 at the break. Downey led the Huskies with 13 points in the first half, while Nsoseme added 11 points and seven rebounds.

In the third quarter, Saint Mary's took control, with Downey and Nsoseme combining for 10 points during a 12-0 run that pushed the lead to 61-47. Acadia's Kyle Munro (Timberlea, NS) hit a three-pointer to halt the Huskies' momentum, but Saint Mary's still led 69-57 heading into the final quarter.

Acadia narrowed the deficit in the fourth quarter as guard Ryan Regault (Scarborough, ON) and forward Erik Hayden (Truro, NS) helped cut the lead to 75-70. Nsoseme responded with a dunk, but Munro connected from deep to bring Acadia within one at 81-80. Huskies forward Jonah Crowther (Dartmouth, NS) answered with a clutch three-pointer, but Acadia tied it 84-84 in the final moments to force overtime.

In the extra period, Nsoseme's dominance continued, scoring four points and grabbing four rebounds. A Regault three-pointer tied it at 90-90, but Downey hit a three of his own to regain the lead for the Huskies. With the game tied at 95-95 after a Munro jumper, Downey's free throw miss bounced to Nsoseme, who put it back up for the winning basket, sealing the 98-95 win.

Nsoseme's 31 points and 16 rebounds led Saint Mary's, with Downey contributing 25 points. Returning guards Jayrell Diggs (East Preston, NS) and Marc-Denault Gabriel (Montreal, QC) added 13 points each, with Gabriel also grabbing nine rebounds.

Cox led Acadia with a 32-point, 14-rebound double-double, while Regault added 27 off the bench in his AUS debut, and Munro chipped in 13 points. The two teams will face off again Saturday night in Wolfville, N.S., with an 8 p.m. tip-off.