EDMONTON - The University of Alberta Golden Bears men's basketball team had to fight, literally, for victory Saturday, January 17 night, winning 90-73 against the University of Manitoba Bisons at the Saville Community Sports Centre. The two teams combined for a total of 62 fouls in a physical victory for Alberta that moved them to 7-6 on the season while Manitoba dropped to 9-5. 

The Bears were led offensively for the second consecutive night by a monster performance from second-year forward Mamadou Gueye, who finished with 25 points, highlighted by a 13-for-18 rate from the free throw line and he added a team-high 14 rebounds to record his second-straight double-double. Senior guard Kenneth Otieno added 18 points while rookie guard Andriy Halushko went a perfect 4-for-4 from three-point range to finish with 13 points. The Bears played without senior guard Joel Friesen, serving a one-game suspension for picking up his fifth technical foul in conference play Friday night. 

The Bisons were led offensively by third-year guard AJ Basi, who recorded 18 points on a 4-for-9 clip from three-point range, as he now has 40 on the season. Fourth-year guard Mike Holloway added 14 points, while senior forward Wyatt Anders was big once again for the Bisons, finishing with 12 points and nine rebounds and did a great job causing problems for Bears forwards all night. 

The first quarter was very even the entire way, as neither team took more than a three-point lead but a late basket and a foul by Otieno gave the Bears an 18-17 lead after one quarter. 

The Bears got hot in the second quarter, though, as Halushko knocked down two three-pointers and the Bears started to pull away, taking a 38-29 halftime lead. 

The Bears entered the second half eager to take the game over and played one of their best quarters of basketball this season. They opened the quarter on a 19-6 run led by Otieno and Gueye, who had eight points each in the third, putting Alberta up 57-35. 

Manitoba would battle back, however, led by Basi who had seven points in the third but Alberta would take control, winning the quarter 29-14 and getting ahead 67-43. 

Then the fouls came fast and often with 23 called in a scrappy fourth quarter between the two teams. The Bears had a quick 9-3 start to the quarter that made it 76-46 and Alberta appeared to be in full control. 

However, both Youssef Ouahrig and Otieno fouled out midway through the quarter and some full court pressure from the Bisons made it interesting. 

They went on an impressive 21-7 run, forcing steals and hitting from long range to make it 83-67 with 2:50 remaining but Alberta would hold on for the eventual 90-73 victory. 

The Bears will be in action next weekend for a key two-game set in Regina against the Cougars, who are 7-7 on the season, Friday and Saturday night at 7 p.m. MT. They will then return home January 30th and 31st to host the Brandon Bobcats at the Saville Community Sports Centre. The Bisons meanwhile will return home next weekend to host the Saskatchewan Huskies, Friday at 8 p.m. CT and Saturday at 7 p.m. CT.