WINNIPEG — Executing in the clutch is starting to become routine for Keiran Zziwa and his Bisons men's basketball team. Friday night was no exception.
Hitting a three-pointer with under 30 seconds left, Manitoba's fifth-year guard capped a 12-0 Bisons run in style.
The shot was the exclamation point in a quarter where the Bisons trailed by nine at the 6:38 mark but stormed back — tying the game on a Mason Kraus three and taking the lead with four more points from Zziwa.
The 68-66 victory at the Duckworth Centre improves the Bisons to 6-3 on the season, while the Wesmen fall to 4-5.
The game was also part of the 30th Duckworth Challenge, a competition between the two cross-town rivals that features games in women's soccer, as well as men's and women's volleyball and basketball.
The win in men's basketball gives Manitoba a 2-1 advantage heading into volleyball next week. The men play at IGAC on Wednesday, January 19 and the women cap the Challenge on Friday, January 21.
Kraus led the Bisons with 16 points, with Elijah Lostracco and Zziwa scoring 13 each. Cameron O'Hara flirted with a double-double, scoring 11 points and grabbing nine boards.
Donte Makazu led the Wesmen off the bench, scoring 15 points.
The two teams face each other again tomorrow night at IGAC, with the tip set for 7 p.m.
