WINNIPEG – Smooth threes, flashy steals, and pinpoint passing looked effortless as the No. 8 nationally ranked Manitoba Bisons made highlight-worthy buckets, setting the tone for some exciting and athletic basketball at Investors Group Athletic Center Friday night. Despite the Mount Royal Cougars leading in rebounds with 48, the Bisons made their shots count and blazed past the cougars 91-68.
 
The win improves Manitoba's record to 12-1, as they continue to lead the Canada West standings, one victory ahead of the No. 1 ranked Victoria Vikes (12-2). It's also their seventh win in a row, as the Herd are undefeated dating back to late November of 2022. The loss moves MRU to 7-6. 
 
Guard Mason Kraus looked like a man possessed for the Bisons as he did it all on the floor Friday night. He ended the game with a double-double, dropping 11 points, ten assists, two rebounds and three steals to lead his team to the win. The double-double was the first of Kraus' career. 
 
Cougars guard Holt Tomie – who is second in the conference in scoring -- would end the game with 22 points, four assists and three rebounds as he fought to keep the Cougars in the game. 
 
"Mason really controlled the game right off the tip and played tremendously on defence," said Bisons head coach Kirby Schepp. "He scored when he should have scored and passed when he needed to pass. He was tremendous." 
 
The men's team picked up where the women left off as they fought against the Cougars in a back-and-forth first half. 
 
All Bisons got in in on the action, with players hitting shots from all over the hardwood and playing selfless pass-first basketball. 
 
Kraus would use his elite court vision to find passes that seemed impossible, getting his teammates, such as rookie Simon Hildebrandt, open for some quick and easy treys from deep. Kraus would lead the Bisons into the half with 14 points. 
 
The Cougars, led by their two impact guards (also their top two scorers) in Tomie and Keivonte Watts, kept MRU in it. The visitors went on a 12-4 run in the back half of the quarter to keep the game within single digits, at 34-28. 
 
At the same time, spark plug Daren Watts, along with the likes of Hildebrandt (game-high 18 points), Jonam Kazadi and Wyatt Tait (returning from injury) showed Manitoba's depth. Tait's four blocks were a career high, Watts sunk an unbelievable circus shot at the buzzer going into the second, as the Bisons barreled ahead into the half, 52-34. 

Overall, six different Bisons scored in double figures, while another two had at least eight points. 
 
Manitoba kept their offensive campaign going in the second half, thanks to some great team defence that caused numerous turnovers. 
 
A plethora of high-energy plays, such as a fadeaway jumper by Tito Obasoto (had a career high 15 points), forced the Cougars into a timeout. Tomie wouldn't give in to the Bisons offensive showcase, as he led his team into the fourth with 18 points. 

"Every game, we come with an under dog mindset, because coming into the season we weren't expected to be where we're at right now," said Obasoto.

"We're just so deep as a team. Anyone can come in and give us energy, and I feel like that just helps us with our versatility. Everyone is unselfish, we move the ball really well, no one forces any shots, and we just hit the shots we get."
 
The fourth would only cement the Bisons lead. Captain Elijah Lostracco would turn it up and command his team down the stretch with some shifty crossovers and silky-smooth mid-range jumpers, finishing with 11 points as Manitoba led by 20 for most of the second half. 
 
Both teams are back tomorrow at 7 pm for the rematch.