EDMONTON - The University of Alberta Golden Bears basketball team kept the momentum rolling Friday night at the Saville Community Sports Centre, defeating the Brandon University Bobcats 89-54. The Bears used big second and fourth quarters to take the win, moving them to 10-6 on the season.

The Bears were led offensively by senior guard Joel Friesen, who finished with 25 points and four rebounds. Second-year forward Mamadou Gueye added a double-double, finishing with 18 points and a team-high 10 rebounds. Freshman forward Sebastien Denault also had a great game, netting 13 points and nine rebounds in just 16 minutes. The Bears bench unit outscored Brandon 27-16.

The Bobcats were led offensively by third-year guard DJ Jordan, leading them in both points with 11 and rebounds with nine. Senior guard Kenonte Ramsay chipped in 10 points, three rebounds, and three blocks for Brandon.

This game started out quite close as the first five minutes saw 21 points scored between the two teams and a slight 11-10 Alberta lead. They would remain close through the end of the quarter as the Bears led 15-14 on a layup from Friesen.

The Bears got hot early in the second quarter, racing out to an 11-2 swing that put them ahead 26-16. Brandon would respond with a Ramsay three-pointer to cut the lead to seven but Alberta would close the quarter on another run of 13-5, capped by a three from Otieno in the dying seconds to lead 37-24 at halftime. Friesen, Gueye, and Otieno combined for 31 of the 37 points scored by Alberta in the first half.

Otieno started the third the same way he finished the second quarter, with another long triple, followed by a layup, and Alberta started the third with an 8-0 push that had them ahead by 21 at 45-24.

Credit to Brandon though, as the Bobcats scored 21 points in the remainder of the quarter. Friesen would strike back with two straight threes, however, and the Bears continued to lead 62-46 after three.

In the fourth, Alberta avoided fourth-quarter struggles repeated earlier this year on their home floor by coming out swinging. Led by Denault who had nine points in the quarter, the Bears went on a 21-5 run to put the game out of the reach and eventually finish 89-58.

The Golden Bears and Bobcats will be back on the court against each other again on Saturday night at the SCSC. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. MT.