Calgary â€" In a game where the Mount Royal University Cougars had to win to stay alive in the playoff hunt, a massive second half boosted the home squad to the 71-63 victory over the visiting MacEwan University Griffins.
 
MacEwan's shots were falling at an incredible rate in the first quarter, as their field goal percentage was 61.5 per cent. Keith Gerdes nailed two treys and led with eight points, pushing MacEwan to a 21-15 lead. The play of the quarter came when Femi Ogun stole the ball and fed a perfect pass to Deng Awak at the rim.
 
Lee Danderfer was on fire for the start of the second as he nailed three deep-range three-pointers to extend the lead. Manok Akwl kept Mount Royal in the game thanks to six points and some big rebonds. At the half, the Griffins were up 37-30.
 
Mount Royal found themselves down 12 points early on in the third, but they began to fight back and finished off on a 10-0 run to draw the score even at 50s enters the fourth frame.
 
Awet Abraha came up clutch in the fourth quarter as he dropped nine of his 17 points, including two huge threes. With the game at 63-61 for Mount Royal, the home squad managed to close it out with 8-0 run before a last minute basket by the Griffins and won 71-63.
 
The Cougars outscored the Griffins 41-26 in the fourth quarter and won the rebound battle 47-33. Their bench notched 20 points, including 17 by Abraha. James Lefebvre had a double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds. Danderfer finished with 23 points and seven threes in the loss
 
Mount Royal needs the University of Fraser Valley to defeat Thompson Rivers University tonight and tomorrow, and the Cougars must also win again tomorrow to clinch a spot in the post season. The Cougars and Griffins clash again tomorrow, this time at 7:30 p.m.
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