Box Score Needing a win to stay above the No. 10 ranked, 14-4 Winnipeg Wesmen, the No. 8 ranked Manitoba Bisons got it done. They led for the vast majority of the game, closing things out with an impressive fourth quarter run to secure a 71-61 victory.
The win improves Manitoba's record to 16-2, which ties the program record for regular season wins since joining Canada West (set in 2019-20 under head coach
Kirby Schepp).
The Bisons have also secured a home playoff date for the opening round of the post-season, which begins on February 17 with a play-in game. The winner will play Manitoba the following evening.
With a win next weekend against Thompson Rivers, the Herd can tie the school record for wins in a regular season, set in 1970-71 as part of the Western Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union. A sweep will set a new program record.
If the Herd sweep TRU and Victoria loses one of two against UBC, Manitoba will secure home court advantage for the entire duration of the playoffs. If both teams sweep, the Bisons will earn the No. 2 seed.
Rookie sensation
Simon Hildebrandt was the story offensively in the first half, scoring 20 points, just eight points less than the entire Wesmen roster. The Herd also did a great job shutting down dynamic guard Shawn Maranan, who had nine points and eight assists but just shot three-for-ten from the field and one-for-six from distance.
The Bisons double teamed Maranan numerous times, forcing other players to make shots, which did not happen consistently enough.
Manitoba led by 15 at one point, but the Wesmen stormed back in the fourth, going on a 9-0 run to start, which gave them a 52-51 lead. They were unable to stop the Herd's run however, as they scored 15 straight over the next four minutes to close out the contest.
The momentum shift occurred with Winnipeg up one. Wesmen head coach Mike Raimbault was given a technical, and Manitoba cashed on the free throw and got a triple from
Wyatt Tait on the ensuing possession. The rest was history.
Hildebrandt finished with a game high 23, while Kraus added 15, doing most of his damage offensively in the fourth. Tait added 12 and and a team-high seven rebounds.
