Cameron Doherty, Huskie Athletics
SASKATOON – Five different members of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies men's basketball team scored in the double-digits as their potent offence allowed them to hold off the UNBC Timberwolves by a score of 98-80 on Ron & Jane Graham Centre Court on Nov. 29.
"I thought we were kind of fortunate to make some shots because some of the things we've been relying on all year weren't there for us tonight like rebounding, it's not very often you get out-rebounded and come out with a win," said Huskies head coach Barry Rawlyk. "Credit to them because they out-hustled us on the glass and that's something we have to address for tomorrow night's game."
With the win, Saskatchewan moves to 7-4 on the season and up to fourth in the conference. UNBC meanwhile, has now lost three games on the hop and sit ninth in Canada West at 5-4.
The shots were falling from everywhere for the Huskies, who ended the night hitting 50.7 per cent of their attempts from the floor, compared to UNBC's total of 36.6 per cent.
The visitors found ways to stick in the game despite their cold shooting, hitting the glass to record nine more rebounds than the Huskies.
Lawrence Moore had 21 points at the half and finished with 33 while also adding eight assists on the night. Maxwell Amoafo recorded 14 points and added 15 rebounds while Alexander Dewar, Emmanuel Akintunde and JT Robinson also hit double-digits, finishing with 14, 14 and 11 respectively.
Vova Pluzhnikov led the way for the Timberwolves, scoring 20 points on four-for-nine shooting from beyond-the-arc. Jovan Leamy and James Agyeman also ended with double-digits, putting up 14 and apiece.
The lead was 11 points at the half and a back-and-forth third quarter did little to separate the teams. However, every time the Timberwolves threatened to go on a run and close the gap in the second half, Saskatchewan had an answer and would eventually pull away for the 18-point victory.
Both of these teams will be back in action tomorrow, Nov. 30 as they close out the 2018 portion of their Canada West schedule on Ron & Jane Graham Centre Court.
"Nobody wants to go into the break chewing on a loss, so just from a psyche perspective it would sure be nice to come out with a win tomorrow," said Rawlyk. "We are going to have to rebound the ball and defend better and hopefully the offence will stay there."