WINNIPEG – The Manitoba Bisons men's basketball team played the Regina Cougars Saturday, November 13, at the Investors Group Athletic Centre. This game was their second this weekend against each other. They played the night before, with the Bisons taking home a close victory.

The Bisons had an unusually slow start on Saturday, giving the Cougars an early lead, reaching eight points at one point. However, the Bisons were able to reign them in, finishing the first quarter in a tight 20-18 game favouring the Cougars.

"[James] Wagner hurt us last night," said Steve Burrows, head coach of the Regina Cougars. "Our focus early was sending a few more bodies on him and make him play in traffic."

The fifth-year Bison was slowed after a 19-point double-double on Friday, scoring just nine points in this one. Keiran Zziwa led Manitoba with 16 points, while Benjamin Hillis led all scorers with 19.

The Cougars picked up the pace in the second quarter, reaching a 15-point lead at one point.

But an alley-oop by Keiran Zziwa to Cameron O'Hara, made in the later point of the second quarter, along with a beautiful, last-second three-point buzzer-beater by Elijah Lostracco gave Manitoba energy. These plays were enough to bring the game back into a heated 40 to 39 in favour of the Bisons.

The Bisons came out of half-time swinging, almost immediately increasing their lead. In just four and a half minutes, the Bisons were up by nine points. They barely held their lead, though, finishing the third quarter 60-58.

"Our energy level dropped a little bit, they raised their compete level a little bit, and we didn't respond," said Kirby Schepp, head coach of the Manitoba Bisons.

The final quarter saw the Cougars making a comeback and ultimately taking their lead back. With one minute left in the game, the Cougars were sitting with a seven-point lead. The game ended 77-68 favouring the Cougars.

The Bisons play the Brandon Bobcats on Nov. 26, looking to start a new winning streak.