LANGLEY, B.C. – The No. 8 ranked Saskatchewan Huskies men's basketball made it two straight wins to start the calendar year with a 99-92 victory over the Trinity Western Spartans Saturday at the Langley Events Centre.
The Huskies were once again led by
Alexander Dewar, who dropped a team high 22 points after scoring 19 in Friday's win.
JT Robinson also added 19 points and five rebounds for Saskatchewan, while
Emmanuel Akintunde and
Maxwell Amoafo also hit double-digits, scoring 18 and 16 respectively.
The win moves Saskatchewan to 8-2 on the season good for fifth in the conference although they are just two points back of the second place Manitoba Bisons.
Ja'Qualyn Gilbreath scored a career high 38 points for TWU (2-8) prior to fouling out midway through the fourth quarter.
Gilbreath shot 45% (13-29) from the field and added 11 rebounds, while Spartans forward Adam Gehrig chipped in with 11 points of his own.
Led by 10 first quarter points from forward Gehrig, the Spartans kept pace with Saskatchewan's high scoring offence in the first. The Huskies, who were led by a pair of 3-pointers from Akintunde, held a 23-17 lead heading into the second quarter.
In the second quarter the Spartans fell behind 35-20 after a 12-3 run by Saskatchewan, before a trio of 3-pointers from Gilbreath helped bring TWU to within six points at 37-31. The Huskies then pulled ahead and led 43-35 at halftime.
TWU then scored a quick five points to open the third quarter, before tying the game at 49-49 courtesy of another Gilbreath 3-pointer. After Saskatchewan once again pulled ahead, a Gilbreath layup at the buzzer brought the Spartans to within five points heading into the final quarter.
The Huskies then took a 10-point lead nearing the final minute of the game, before a trio of 3-pointers brought TWU to within three points with 43 seconds remaining. Despite the late push by the Spartans, Saskatchewan would hold on to win 99-92.
The Huskies shot 47% (31-66) compared to the Spartans 41% (33-81) from the field. TWU held a 48-46 advantage in total rebounds.
