The UNBC Timberwolves moved themselves into a tie for a playoff position Friday night in Calgary, handing the Mount Royal Cougars a 92-85 loss.
UNBC's second-year post Franco Kouagnia played a major role in the victory with a game-high 24 points and six rebounds. First-year guard Rhys Elliott put down 23 points, while Devin McMurtry hauled in 17 offensive rebounds and eight points.
Deng Awak picked up 23 points to lead the Cougars and Manok Akwl finished with 18.
UNBC shot 47.7 per cent from the field and hit on 12 of 23 three-point attempts.
The win moved improved the T-wolves' CIS Canada West Explorer Division record to 6-7, tied with third-place Mount Royal. The same teams meet again tonight at Mount Royal gym.
In the women's game Friday, Mount Royal defeated the last-place Timberwolves 69-46.
Cougars guard Desiree Oakley shot a career-high 20 points to lift the home team, which quickly found itself trailing 7-0 to start the game when Kylie Pozniak potted five points in quick succession. Sarah Robin and Jasprit Nijjar helped UNBC cut the deficit to 44-36 in the third quarter but Mount Royal pulled away in the final quarter with a 20-4 run.
Pozniak led UNBC with 12 points and Robin finished with 11.
Mount Royal remains fourth in the Explorer Division at 5-8, while the T-wolves dropped to 1-12.
The rematch is at 5 p.m. PST.
