WINNIPEG – A 80-74 come from behind win over the Fraser Valley Cascades (3-5) will send the Manitoba Bisons (7-1) into the winter break in a jolly mood, capping off five straight wins at the Investors Group Athletic Centre after Saturday's tilt.
Bisons' guard Keiran Zziwa finished with a game-high 22 points, shooting a superb 53.8% from the field. Rashawn Browne added 10 points, six assists, and five rebounds for Manitoba.
"I just had a lot of fun," said Zziwa postgame. "In the second half my teammates got me involved and Rashawn — even though he's hurt right now — had a big role and not just with points but rebounding and just getting me the ball."
Manitoba only led for 12:18 but didn't stop chugging along, ending the game on a 26-15 run. An Andre Arruda free throw with 1:34 to go gave Manitoba a late lead they never gave up.
"Fraser Valley is the best offensive team we've seen this year, and down the stretch we made a couple adjustments in the way we were guarding and fortunately they went dry at the right time," said Manitoba head coach Kirby Schepp after the win.
The first half featured back and forth action, with the Cascades taking a two-point lead to the locker room after 10 lead changes in 20 minutes.
Fraser Valley began the third quarter on a 16-7 run, but 10 points and two assists in the quarter from Zziwa kept the game in reach for Manitoba.
"It's really exciting knowing we had a big opportunity to go into the half 7-1 — and we made the most out of it," said Zziwa.
With no Cascades player scoring more than 15 points, Zziwa and the Bisons held the high-scoring visitors in check, especially top-three Canada West scorer Parm Bains who finished with just 14 points.
"We focused up on our scouting and made sure not to give them three-point looks since they're one of the best shooting teams in Canada West," said Zziwa.
The Bisons won't suit up until Jan 3, when they travel to Edmonton for a weekend series with the winless MacEwan University Griffins. Tip-off for the Friday game is 9 p.m.
