Australian players celebrate their upset win over Canada in men's wheelchair basketball Tuesday in Beijing. (Greg Baker/Associated Press)

Australia denied the Canadian men's wheelchair basketball team a third straight Paralympic gold medal with a 72-60 upset victory Tuesday.

Troy Sachs led Australia with 19 points, while Justin Everson added 17 in the final at the Beijing Paralympics.

Team leader Patrick Anderson of Vancouver had a game-high 22 points for Canada and added 10 rebounds.

The Canadians had dominated the sport for the last eight years, winning in Sydney and Athens.

Canada appeared headed for a third title after winning all seven of its games in Beijing, including a dramatic 69-62 semifinal victory against the U.S. on Sunday, when Anderson led the Canadians with 33 points, 21 rebounds and six assists.

The Edmonton native knows the Australians well as he played in a league in that country, where he was named the most valuable player in 2004.

"I've never won a silver medal or lost the gold," said Anderson. "It's weird losing the last game of the tournament. This team has had a really good run.

"The Aussies have been there and been close and knocking on the door for a long time. Maybe it was a matter of time before they had their due."

Australia had won six games and lost one, to the United States, prior to its gold-medal win.

In wheelchair rugby action, Canada earned a bronze medal after defeating Great Britain 47-41. Mike Whitehead led Canada with 14 goals and teammate Fabien Lavoie added 11.

With files from the Canadian Press