Box Score WINNIPEG - The University of Manitoba Bisons swept the University of Regina Cougars in men's basketball on Saturday, January 30 night with a 77-63 win at Investors Group Athletic Centre.
 
The Bisons are now 11-5, while the Cougars fall to 8-6 with the loss.
 
"I thought their energy level was a lot higher [yesterday]" Bison head coach Kirby Schepp said about the Cougars after the game. "Today, our energy level was better and matched theirs, and it showed in terms of rebounds and loose balls."
 
The Bisons combined for 53 rebounds, 18 of which came from Keith Omoerah. Justus Alleyn led the Bisons with 13 points, while Omoerah, AJ Basi, Jonathan Alexander, Brett Jewell and Regina's Jonathan Tull each had 12.
 
Jewell scored on a layup in the first 10 seconds of the game and added another layup and a jump shot to give the Bisons an early lead before the Cougars made it on the board.  The teams kept the game close and clean until the final minutes of the quarter. Manitoba put up three fouls in just over a minute, including two from Amir Ali. The Cougars scored three points on ensuing free throws, and Tull added a layup to tie the game at 14. But the Bisons fought back and put up seven points to lead 21-18 at the end of the first.
 
The Bisons held the Cougars scoreless until three minutes into the second, when Alex Igual made a layup. Manitoba gave up only nine more points in the quarter, including four from Regina guard Aaron McGowan on a jump shot and a pair of free throws. Manitoba's Justus Alleyn scored on a layup in the final seconds of play, and the Bisons led 44-29 at the half.
 
Turnovers plagued the home team in the second half. The Bisons gave up possession seven times on turnovers in the third and another seven in the fourth, while the Cougars had only six in the second half. The Bisons and Cougars were more evenly matched with fouls. Regina fouled five times in the third (including one bench technical and one technical against McGowan), and Manitoba put up five of their own. But the Bison offense stayed strong, and Manitoba led 60-40 after three. 
 
In the fourth, however, Regina's offense shone. For the first time all game, the Cougars scored more points (23) in a quarter than the Bisons (17). Both teams continued to struggle with fouls, and Regina gained nine of their points on free throws. Ali had six points for the Bisons in the quarter (made on a three-point jump shot and three free throws), and Manitoba took the game 77-63.
 
Next weekend, the Cougars will host the University of Victoria Vikes, while the Bisons will take on the rival University of Winnipeg Wesmen in the 25^th annual Duckworth Challenge.
 
"It's a huge game," Schepp said about Friday's matchup. "[The Wesmen] have won six in a row. If either team sweeps, it'll be huge."
 
The Bisons and Wesmen will face off on Friday, Feb. 5 at 6 p.m. at Investors Group Athletic Centre in the 25th annual Duckworth Challenge game.
 
Scoring:
Manitoba: 21-23-16-17=77
Regina: 18-11-11-23+63
 
Scoring leaders
Manitoba: Justus Alleyn (13), four players (12) and Amir Ali (6)
Regina: Jonathan Tull (12), Aaron McGowan (11) and Travis Sylvestre (10)
 
Assist leaders
Manitoba: Justus Alleyn (5), Brett Jewell (4) and Keith Omoerah (3)
Regina: Aaron McGowan (5), Jonathan Tull (2) and four players (1)
 
Rebound leaders
Manitoba: Keith Omoerah (18), Jonathan Alexander (10) and two players (6)
Regina: Travis Sylvestre (6), Brandon Tull (5) and Brian Ofori (4)