Calgary — With their playoff fate in their hands, the Mount Royal University Cougars won finished the weekend sweep over the MacEwan University Griffins with a thrilling 87-81 win.

Mount Royal awaits the result of the University of Fraser Valley and Thompson Rivers University game, as they need a UFV win in order to make the postseason.

Deng Awak and Denzel James went at each other in the first quarter, both putting up seven points. Mount Royal made four three pointers enroute to a 22-16 lead after one. Lee Danderfer, who showed off his tremendous range last night, nailed a buzzer-beating three five feet behind the line.

Mount Royal led by 10 or more for most of the second quarter, but a late effort with three-consecutive and-one plays helped the Griffins drop the deficit to just six as they trailed 41-35. James poured in another seven, while Thomas Jereniuk had seven as well. Kyle Wilson and Jalen Gardener both had five points.

James' dominant game continued into the third as he added 13 points to his total. Both teams got in early foul trouble, but MacEwan was able to capitalize more from the line and only trailed by one, 61-60 entering the fourth. Manok Akwl had six points to lead Mount Royal in the frame.

Early in the fourth, Femi Ogun fouled out in his last regular season home game and the Cougars found themselves in early foul trouble. The Cougars held an eight point lead with just under three minutes left, but the Griffins battled back to be within just three. With 40 seconds left and a Mount Royal possession, Awet Abraha extended his university career and team's season with a huge jumper from the elbow. A couple of deep three point attempts didn't fall, and Mount Royal left victorious.

In what could have been the last game Kyle Wilson, Awak, Ogun and Abraha as their university careers come to a close, all players left it on the court in with brilliant efforts.

Denzel James scored at least seven points in each quarter and finished with 34 points in the loss. Derek Wolf had four treys and 14 points enroute to being named the player of the game for Mount Royal.

With a UFV win over TRU, the Cougars will host a best-of-three series against an opponent from the Pioneer Division.