2015-16 AUS basketball schedules released

(HALIFAX, N.S.) - Atlantic University Sport is pleased to announce the 2015-16 men's and women's regular season basketball schedules. Both seasons are set to begin on Friday, Nov. 6.

The men's and women's format will once again see teams compete in a single division where they will each play a total of 20 regular season games. Following the regular season, the top six teams will qualify for post-season play at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, N.S.

The winning team from each AUS championship will advance to their respective CIS championship.

All AUS regular and post-season games will be webcast at AUStv.ca powered by Bell Aliant Community One.

Link to full 2015-16 AUS men's basketball schedule here: http://www.atlanticuniversitysport.com/sports/mbkb/2015-16/schedule?confonly=1

Link to full 2015-16 AUS women's basketball schedule here: http://www.atlanticuniversitysport.com/sports/wbkb/2015-16/schedule?confonly=1

MEN

All eight AUS men's basketball teams will see action during the opening weekend of regular season play.

In a rematch of the 2015 AUS championship semifinal, the reigning champion Dalhousie Tigers will host the UNB Varsity Reds on opening night, Friday, Nov. 6, at the Dalplex in Halifax, N.S. The UNB squad will look to start on a winning note after finishing first in the 2014-15 regular season standings for the first time since 1967.

The other two opening night matchups will feature the Cape Breton Capers hosting the Acadia Axemen in Sydney, N.S. and the StFX X-Men visiting the UPEI Panthers in Charlottetown, P.E.I.

Tipoff for all three games is set for 8 p.m. The StFX and Acadia squads will look to rebound after missing last year’s postseason. The Capers fell to the Dalhousie Tigers in last season’s championship quarterfinals, while the Panthers were ousted in the semifinals by the Saint Mary’s Huskies.

The Huskies, 2015 Subway AUS Men’s Basketball Championship runners up, will kick off the season with back-to-back games in St. John’s, N.L. versus the Memorial Sea-Hawks. Game times are set for Saturday, Nov. 7 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 8 at 1 p.m.

The 2015-16 regular season concludes on Saturday, Feb. 27.

The 2016 Subway AUS Men's Basketball Championship will once again be hosted at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax from Friday, March 4 to Sunday, March 6.

The winner of the six-team tournament will earn the AUS banner and a berth in the 2016 CIS Final 8 championship which will be hosted by the University of British Columbia in Vancouver from March 17 to 20.

WOMEN

The 2015-16 AUS women's basketball schedule will once again run parallel to the men's, and will also kick off on Friday, Nov. 6.

On opening night, the X-Women and Axewomen squads will both be looking to rebound after missing last year's postseason. Acadia will visit the Cape Breton Capers in Sydney, N.S. at 6 p.m.

The UPEI Panthers, 2015 Subway AUS Women’s Basketball Championship runners up, will host StFX Friday at 6 p.m. in the first of two weekend games between the squads. They will square off again Saturday, Nov. 7 at 2 p.m.

The final opening night matchup will take place at 6 p.m. in Halifax, with the Dalhousie Tigers playing host to the UNB Varsity Reds. Both squads were ousted by UPEI in last year’s postseason. The Varsity Reds fell to the Panthers in the championship quarterfinals while the Tigers were put out in the semifinals.

The three-time defending champion Saint Mary’s Huskies will open the season with back-to-back games versus the Memorial Sea-Hawks. They will visit St. John’s, N.L. Saturday, Nov. 7 for a 6 p.m. matchup and faceoff again Sunday, Nov. 8 at 11 a.m.

The women's 2015-16 regular season also concludes on Saturday, Feb. 27.

The 2016 Subway AUS Women's Basketball Championship will once be hosted by AUS at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, in conjunction with the men's championship.

The format will mirror the men's with the AUS champion advancing to the CIS Final 8 championship. This year's women's national championship will be hosted by UNB, March 17 to 20 in Fredericton, N.B.

As hosts, the Varsity Reds are guaranteed a berth in the CIS championship. Should they claim the AUS banner, the runners up will earn the other CIS championship berth.

With files from Atlantic University Sport