The Bison basketball teams host weekend series against Alberta on Friday, November 25 and then Saturday, November 26 at the Investors Group Athletic Centre (U of Manitoba campus). On Friday, the women's game will be at 6 p.m. CT and the men's game is scheduled for 8 p.m. CT while on Saturday, women's start at 4 p.m. CT and men's at 6 p.m. CT. Tickets available at the door of IGAC.
The Bison men's basketball team (2-4) has already earned a win over a U Sports Top 10 team (Calgary on the road) so far this season and tied for tenth spot in the Canada West conference standing as the play #10 Alberta Golden Bears (6-0). Manitoba went 2-0 against Alberta last season (W 90-68 at home on Nov. 20/15; W 74-61 at home on Nov. 21/15). The Herd has won three of the last four meetings over the last two conference season against the Bears.
In Canada West steals per game, the Herd are tied for first at 10.0; in assists per game, Manitoba is 13th with 11.3 per game and in rebounds per game; Manitoba is 13th in conference at 36.2; blocks per game, the Bisons are tied for 14th at 1.7. In 3-point percentage, Manitoba is third at 39.3% and eighth in field goal percentage at 42.4%. Individually, co-captain Justus Alleyn is tied for 14th in conference scoring at 15.3 points per game while Keith Omoerah is tied for 17th at 15.2 point per game and co-captain AJ Basi is 23rd at 14.7 pts./game. Basi and Omoerah are tied for fifth with 32.5 minutes played per game. Omoerah is tied for ninth with 7.2 rebounds per Basi and Omoerah are T-4th with 2.5 steals per game. Jonathan Alexander is ninth in field goal shooting percentage at 58.0%. Basi is 11th in 3-point percentage at 45.7%.
The Bison women's basketball team (1-5) seeks their second win of the conference season against Alberta (6-0). The game on Friday is the "Shoot for the Cure" campaign and Junior Bison Night. The team encourages people to wear pink or bring $10 to purchase this year's version of the Shoot for the Cure T-shirt. In addition, the team has paired with Lululemon to collect sports bras for inner city youth and fans can donate at the door.
Manitoba went 0-2 against Alberta last season (L 64-44 at home on Nov. 20/15; L 81-48 at home on Nov. 21/15). The last time the Herd defeated the Pandas in conference play was in the 2010-11 season when the Bisons won 78-76 on the road (Jan. 21/11). The last time that Manitoba won at home over Alberta in Canada West action was in the 2003-04 season (W 87-85 on Jan. 17/04).
In this conference women's basketball season, the Bisons are 14th in scoring offence at 57.8 points per game and 15th in scoring defence at 70.2 points per game. In Canada West rebounds, the Bisons are fourth at 41.2 per game, ninth in steals per game 8.0, 13th with 1.7 blocks per game and 15th in assists per game at 7.8. In 3-point percentage, Manitoba is eighth at 27.9% and 15th in field goal percentage at 32.8%. Individually, assistant captain Nicole Konieczny is tied for 15th in conference scoring with 14.2 points per game, tied for fifth with 33.5 minutes per game, T-14th with 7.2 rebounds per game and tied for eighth with 2.5 steals per game. Emma Thompson 12th with 37.5% in 3-point shooting percentage and Taylor Randall is T-14th in free throw shooting at 80.0%.
