The Niagara College Knights have had Sault College's number this season and the visitors took care of business on the court once again on Friday.
Having won a pair of games against the Cougars at home in Welland earlier this season, Niagara took another pair of Ontario Colleges Athletic Association games with a 70-67 win in men's action after taking a 57-43 decision in women's play at Sault College.
In the men's contest, Sault College blew an early 17 point lead as Niagara climbed back into the game by halftime.
After Eliran Kikos put the Knights ahead with a three-point shot to open the scoring, the Cougars went on a 20 point run to pull ahead 20-3. After the Cougars opened the big lead, the team lost focus and allowed Niagara to storm back into the game.
The Knights then went on an 11-3 run of their own and outscored the Cougars 26-13 the rest of the half to pull to within four points at 33-29.
"We lost our focus for about five minutes," said Cougars head coach Tom Cory. "We were up and playing hard and then we lost our intensity. We allowed them to gain some confidence and it got them back into the game. It was a short span where we lost our energy and intensity but that's where we lost it."
The teams battled back and forth for most of the second half until Niagara took a four point lead at 68-64 late in the game.
Sault College shooter Ron Kelly hit a three-pointer to pull the Cougars to within one with 45 seconds remaining in regulation time. After Niagara hit a pair of free throws, the Cougars had the opportunity to send the game into overtime on the last possession.
With Kelly being double teamed down into the corner, Nathan Whalen was left open on the opposite side of the court in three-point territory. The Cougars found Whalen and his shot hit the rim as time expired allowing Niagara to steal one on the road.
Jordan Sanders led all scorers with 23 points for the Cougars while Kelly added 13 and Whalen 11. Kikos led Niagara with 22 points while Anderson St. Valle added 18.
Earlier in the season in Welland, the teams battled into overtime before the Knights gained a 89-85 win.
Sault College falls to 5-3 on the season while Niagara improves to 6-1. The Cougars remain in good position to secure a playoff berth but will need a solid effort in a pair of tough road games next weekend.
In the women's game, Sault College played with a solid effort but a poor shooting performance allowed Niagara to cruise to the win.
The Knights took a 27-18 lead into the half as Sault College shot three of 21 from the floor. Niagara held the lead throughout and shot better than 40 per cent in the game.
"You are not going to win any games in any league when you're shooting less than 15 per cent," said Cougars head coach Randy Russon. "In the second half we cut the lead to five or six and then we gave up some easy threes. We need to get the hands in their face and challenge the shots but we didn't do that."
The Cougars fall to 2-6 on the season but remain in a position to challenge for a playoff spot with some wins and a little help.
"We need to beat Redeemer and we need Algoma to beat Redeemer. Niagara and Mohawk both have four wins each and it will be tough to catch them but we put ourselves into the position that we're in. Our goal at the beginning of the year was to win our first game and we have won two but we are still focused on making the playoffs," said Russon.
Niagara will remain in town and head over the George Leach Centre on Saturday for a pair of games against the Algoma University Thunderbirds. The women tip-off at noon followed by the men at 2 p.m.
Sault College will hit the road next weekend as the men visit Lambton on Friday before the men and women meet St. Clair College in Windsor on Saturday.
In volleyball action, the Sault College Cougars women's squad will host Niagara on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Sault College gym.