Box Score by Zach Peters
 
WINNIPEG – The Manitoba Bisons men's basketball team kept a close score line with the #4 Alberta Golden Bears for the second night, but lost the game 87-71 on Saturday, February 8, at the Investors Group Athletic Centre (U of M campus).
 
The Golden Bears clinched the Canada West's Prairie Divisions top spot, improving their season record to 18-2. The Bisons fall to 5-15.
 
Joel Friesen led the Golden Bears with 17 points, and teammate Jordan Baker had a double-double, netting 15 points, and coming up with 10 rebounds.
 
The Bisons were led by first year player Andre Arruda who played 39 minutes, had 14 points, and shot 100 per cent from the line, going four for four.
 
"Their intensity defensively bothered us," said Bisons head coach Kirby Schepp. "We struggled getting shots."
 
The first half score line was quite close, as both teams fought hard on both sides of the ball. With the Golden Bears shooting well from the line, going eight for nine. Alberta led by seven at the break. The intensity of the first half kept up throughout the third quarter. Alberta extended their lead to as many as 13, but Manitoba stuck with them, and went on a 14-6 run of their own in the middle of the period. The Bisons shot seven of 13 from the field (53 per cent).
 
In the fourth quarter Alberta continued to pour it on offensively and went up by 17 with two minutes remaining. The Bisons weren't able to pull the game back within reach, leading to their 16-point loss.
 
Manitoba's next game goes against their crosstown rivals the University of Winnipeg Wesmen on Thursday, February 13, in the 23rd annual Duckworth Challenge. Alberta plays host to the University of Saskatchewan Huskies next weekend on Friday and Saturday.