BRANDON, Man. – The Saskatchewan Huskies bounced the Brandon Bobcats 94-81 to start the 2019-20 Canada West men's basketball season.
 
Newcomer Dominique Dennis scored the first two BU baskets of the new season as the Bobcats jumped out to an early 5-1 lead. The first quarter was back and forth with BU trailing 16-14 at the end of one.
 
Saskatchewan set the tone in the second quarter with a 16-0 run to go up 34-18. The Huskies out rebounded the Bobcats 27-12 while BU went just 8-for-18 from the free throw line. The U-of-S led 48-37 at the break.
 
"We were just focused on what we needed to do during that stretch of the game," said Noah Nickel, who scored 15 points for the Huskies. "We got back on defence, pushed the pace and ran the floor. We did what we do best and played to our strengths."
 
Brandon trimmed the deficit to eight with 1:09 left in the third quarter after a three pointer from Elisha Ampofo.
 
The Huskies doubled their lead to 16 late in the final frame to lock up a road victory on opening night.
 
Alexander Dewar scored a game-high 28 points while Emmanuel Akintunde was next with 19 for Saskatchewan.
 
The top scorer for the Bobcats was Dennis with 23 points, while American import Haashim Wallace had 18 points.
 
"I liked our effort and that is all you can ask for," said Dennis. "The shots may not be falling, but as long as the effort is there I think we always have a chance to be in the game."
 
The Bobcats and Huskies meet Saturday night in the rematch at the Healthy Living Centre.