Box Score Winnipeg, MB – It was a high-intensity men's basketball match between the University of Manitoba Bisons and the University of Alberta Golden Bears on Saturday, Nov. 21 at Investors Group Athletic Centre. The Bell NBA All-Star Challenge provided entertainment during breaks, and NBA Legend Muggsy Bogues was in attendance. The Bisons' strong shooting and solid defense helped them defeat the Golden Bears 74-61. The Bisons have won three of their last four games and are now 4-2 for the season, while the Golden Bears are 2-4. Both teams opened the game with three-pointers in the first minute. It was clear from the start that they both have what it takes to win, and it came down to who wanted it more. Manitoba widened their lead to double-digits in the second and never let up. They had 56 per cent shooting beyond the arc, totalling 30 points.
"Our defense really held the day," said Bisons Head Coach
Kirby Schepp. "Holding a good team like Alberta to 61 is pretty solid." He credits the impressive long-distance shooting to good ball movement by his offense.
The first quarter saw the Bisons benefit from two threes by guard
Justus Alleyn and one from team captain Amarjit Basi, as they fought to take a 19-15 lead.
Manitoba forward
Keith Omoerah kicked off an 11-point run in the middle of the second quarter to widen the home team's lead. Alberta guard Colby Jackson and forward Brody Clark helped keep their team in the game, but they headed into halftime down 43-30.
Halftime didn't slow down either team, as Alberta post Sebastien Denault was a force at the boards and put up nine points for his team. Manitoba's Basi and Omoerah each landed additional three-pointers to help the Bisons narrowly take the quarter and enter the last quarter leading 59-45.
Alberta's Clark and Jackson opened up the final quarter with successful jump shots making it a ten-point game. The Bisons' Alleyn responded with his third three-pointer of the game to secure his team's double-digit lead. The home team kept that lead and finished the game with a 74-61 win.
Manitoba's Basi led the match with 20 points, while forward Mamadou Gueye led the Golden Bears with 14. Gueye also led the game in the rebounds department, with 12—narrowly edging out
Bisons forward Wyatt Anders who had 11. Manitoba's next game is against the University of Brandon on Nov. 27, while Alberta faces the University of British Columbia next weekend.
