Zachary Worden, Cougar Athletics
CALGARY – The University of Alberta Golden Bears and Mount Royal University Cougars were back in action Saturday at Kenyon Court.
Both teams were missing key pieces of their offensive attack as Mamadou Gueye was out for the Golden Bears and LJ Hegwood was inactive for the Cougars.
After overcoming a deficit in the first game of the series, the Golden Bears were able to do it again after trailing heading into the fourth, they came away with a 73-64 win and a series sweep.
The Golden Bears were carried on the offensive end by Brody Clarke who had a near double-double finishing with 16 points and eight rebounds. Austin Waddoups led the team in scoring, putting in 18 points while adding six rebounds of his own.
Josh Ross was the leader for the Cougars as he scored a game-high 26 points while making six threes and grabbing nine rebounds. Glen Yang was also a focal point in the Cougar offense as he scored 11 points and dished out three assists.
The Cougars came out of the gate with a ton of intensity as they took their game to the Golden Bears and took an early 7-0 lead.
After the early Cougar run the Golden Bears were able to settle into their offense and tie-up the game, after a run of their own.
The two teams went back and forth throughout the quarter, looking to gain an advantage heading into the second. Once the quarter had finished the Cougars led 19-18.
Ross and Yang led the Cougar offense in the quarter as they combined for 16 points, while Ross also added three rebounds.
The tight battle continued into the second as neither team could build a lead, despite both teams finding ways to score on the offensive end.
The lead continued to change hands throughout the quarter but ultimately, the Golden Bears took a 37-35 lead into the halftime break.
Waddoups made his mark in the first half as he led the Golden Bears with 11 points while making two threes.
The back and forth affair carried through the halftime break as the teams continued to trade baskets without being able to grow a lead.
Ross had another big quarter scoring 12 points while making his mark from behind the three-point line.
Clarke was the focus for the Golden Bears on the offensive end in the quarter, scoring nine points and controlling the paint.
The Cougars were able to overtake the lead late in the quarter, but after a deep three from Lynden Annetts at the buzzer the Golden Bears cut the lead to one, setting up a dramatic finish to the series.
Both teams struggled to start the quarter combining to score only four points in the first five minutes of the quarter.
The Golden Bears were able to come out of the offensive lull and take the lead from the Cougars heading into the final two minutes.
Once they took the lead the Golden Bears wouldn't give it back coming away with the victory, after only allowing the Cougars to score four points in the final quarter.
Next weekend the Golden Bears will head back home for a home and home series against the MacEwan Griffins, tipping off January 25th at the Saville Community Sports Centre. Meanwhile, the Cougars are back on the road, as they will play a weekend series against the University of Victoria Vikes. Both series will be streamed live on www.canadawest.tv.