BRANDON, Man. – The Brandon Bobcats had first-half momentum, but could not carry it over after the break and dropped an 87-75 decision against the Saskatchewan Huskies on Saturday night.
 
Brandon pushed the pace early and back-to-back baskets by American standouts Haashim Wallace and Shun Williams gave the 'Cats a 12-5 lead in the opening quarter. The Huskies replied with an 11-2 run to finish the first frame up 21-19.
 
"We are a young team and we have a young group of guys," said Wallace, who scored 16 first-half points for Brandon. "We just need to find some consistency and we will be able to get the job done before the season is over."
 
The second quarter saw both teams play with the lead and when halftime arrived BU was up 41-40.
 
Emmanuel Akintunde and Noah Nickel hit consecutive three pointers with under three minutes to go in the third quarter to go ahead 60-52. The third period ended in dramatic fashion as Wallace hit a wild circus shot from just past midcourt to trim BU's deficit to 65-57.
 
Nickel and Kessler Bishop went to work inside the paint for the U-of-S in the late stages of the fourth to push the Huskies' lead to 12 points.
 
JT Robinson recorded 20 points while Nickel was next with 15 points for Saskatchewan. Akintunde and Bishop added 11 points apiece for the Huskies, who welcome the MacEwan Griffins on November 8-9.
 
"It is awesome to start the season off perfect," said Bishop. "We fought through some adversity in the second game. There is no better way to start off the season."
 
Meanwhile, Wallace finished with a game-high 24 points for the Bobcats, who conclude their four-game homestand to start the season by taking on the Lethbridge Pronghorns this coming weekend at the Healthy Living Centre.