SASKATOON, Sask. – Thanks to an impressive fourth quarter, the U SPORTS No. 4-ranked Winnipeg Wesmen closed out a strong road performance with a 96-83 victory over the Saskatchewan Huskies Friday night (Feb. 6) at the Ron & Jane Graham Centre Court.
In what was a competitive contest until the very end, the win improved the Wesmen to 15-4 as Winnipeg tightens it's grasp on the top seed in the Canada West playoffs, while the Huskies moved to 5-14 despite an efficient shooting performance.
The opening quarter set the tone for what would be tightly-contested battle. Winnipeg edged the Huskies 16-15 after 10 minutes, led by their starting lineup and four trips to the charity stripe. Saskatchewan answered with strong shooting, going 7-for-13 from the field, which saw six points come from Mohamed Mahamdhi.
The Huskies carried their momentum into the second, outscoring the visitors 25-22 to take the halftime advantage 40-38.
Emmanuel Bonsu provided the second quarter spark, totaling eight points of 4-of-5 shooting while the Wesmen depth showed life as seven student-athletes found the scoresheet.
The third quarter featured multiple lead changes, and the two teams traded runs looking to establish control. Kato Jaro exploded for the Wesmen with 16 points, including a pair of triples while Bonsu continued to provide offence for the Huskies with 10. Saskatchewan narrowly edged out the visiting team 25-27, setting the game up for a decisive fourth quarter.
The final frame proved to belong to the Wesmen, who poured in 33 points in the final 10 minutes to secure the victory and avoid an upset scare. Donald Stewart led the charge for Winnipeg, totaling nine points, but it was once again the scoring depth of the visiting team which told the story.
Saskatchewan battled until the final horn, shooting 56.9 percent from the field and getting strong performances from Bonsu (25 points) and Thimm (18 points, 10 rebounds). However, 22 turnovers and late defensive lapses proved costly.
Winnipeg sealed the victory at the free-throw line in the closing minute, pulling away to secure a well-earned road win and maintain momentum as the regular season reaches its climax.
The two teams return to action tomorrow for the regular season finale set or 7:00 PM at the Physical Activity Complex.
