SASKATOON, Sask. - In what was a hard-fought and tightly contested affair, the Saskatchewan Huskies eventually fell to the visiting Mount Royal Cougars by a final score of 85-73 Saturday night on the Ron and Jane Graham Centre Court. 

The loss drops the Huskies' record to 0-10 as the Dogs continue to search for their first victory of the 2024-25 season. 

For Mount Royal, the win improves their record to 8-4, moving the Cougars into fourth place in the Canada West Prairie Division. 

Statistically, both teams were fairly even across the stat sheet, however, it was largely turnovers and fouls that contributed to the final twelve point margin. 

The Cougars earned their way to the line for a total of twenty-nine free throw attempts, converting on twenty-four, while adding nineteen points off sixteen forced turnovers. 

Conversely, the Huskies generated only eight free throw attempts all game, converting four and adding ten points off ten forced turnovers.

The Cougars were led by Keivonte Watts who went 9-16 from the field and 2-6 from three point range, totalling twenty-eight points and outpacing all scorers over four quarters of play. The Cougar guard was also unblemished from the free throw line, going a perfect 8-8 from the stripe. 

Dray Walburger also contributed to the Cougar's offensive output, putting up fourteen points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals.

For Saskatchewan, the Dogs were led offensively by Emmanuel Bonsu who went 6-13 from the field and 3-6 from beyond the arc for a total of sixteen points. 

Easton Thimm chimed in with his fourth straight double-double and sixth on the season as the Dogs' forward tallied ten points and ten total rebounds. 

After heading into the locker room down 33-46 at halftime, the Huskies came out strong defensively in the third quarter, holding the Cougars to just 4-17 from the field and 0-4 from beyond the arc, narrowing the MRU lead to nine as the game entered the fourth quarter. 

However, Watts and Walburger saved their best for last as the duo each went perfect from both the field and the free throw line, combining for nineteen points in the final frame and ultimately thwarting the Dogs hopes of securing their first victory of the season. 

The Huskies will look to get on track on the road as the Dogs travel to Winnipeg next weekend to face the 8-2 Wesmen, while MRU travels to Brandon for their away matchup against the 3-9 Bobcats.