In tonight's other game, Harbour Heat were in unstoppable form at home, annihilating the Manawatu Jets 122-71.
Saints and the Cougars slugged it out in a low-scoring encounter, reversing the result which saw the Christchurch team win by 15 earlier in the season.
An otherwise tight game was won hands down in two areas by the Saints: they out-rebounded the Cougars 48 to 39, and they were outstanding from the free-throw line, shooting 14 from 15 while the Cougars managed only four from 10.
For the Saints, Mike Efevberha top-scored with 22 and Lindsay Tait showed signs of getting back to top form with 15 points, four assists and three steals.
Reece Cassidy again showed his value for the Saints scoring 20 and taking eight boards whilst also grabbing two steals and a block shot.
For the Cougars, Tim Behrendorff top scored with 22 and other than 10 points to Paul Henare, no other Cougar reached double figures .
The Heat sent the Jets packing , although the Manawatu team led 30-25 at the end of the first quarter on the back of some smooth shooting from their points scoring machine Marcel Jones .
But thanks to some aggressive defence from Daryl Cartwright and Mike Bell under the basket, Corey Webster and Mychal Green were given licence to run and shoot at will and by halftime the lead for the Heat was 58-48.
It seemed that outside of Jones and Kaine Hokianga, the Jets had little or no offence.
Jones led all scorers with 36 but was largely a lone hand in a losing effort. For the Heat, Webster contributed 32, Green 30, and Mike Bell a double double with points and boards.
