WINNIPEG – The Manitoba Bisons and Regina Cougars put on a defensive clinic on Friday night at IGAC, combining for 24 steals and 88 rebounds in a 62-59 Cougars win. It was Manitoba's first loss of the season, falling to 3-1, while Regina has won four games in a row and are now 4-3.
 
The Bisons had a chance to tie the game with five seconds to go after Ben Kamba went one-for-two at the free throw line for the Cougars.
 
Bisons guard Mason Kraus, who led the team with 17 points including three triples, had a great look off the side out from the perimeter, but his shot went off the rim and out.
 
"I thought it was in, but I missed five or six easy ones in a row," said Kraus.
 
"I would shoot them all again. They looked good, felt good. I just have to knock them down next time."
 
Despite the result, Kraus set a school record in career steals. He had four on the night, and Manitoba had 15 as a team, scoring 28 of their 59 points off turnovers.
 
Kraus now has 154 steals as a Bison, breaking a 13-year school record set in 2011 by Eric Garcia, who played 34 more games than Kraus to get there.
 
"When I first came in, [head coach] Kirby [Schepp] said I got recruited for my defence mostly. I feel like I can stop anyone," Kraus, who played a game-high 35 minutes, added.
 
"It just shows that hard work on defence is about effort. I feel like I'm one of the guys who puts the most effort in on the floor every game. Loose balls, diving, picking up their best guys. It's a great record to take."
 
It was a one-point game after three quarters, with Regina up 46-45. A 14-6 run in the first five minutes of the fourth helped the visitors sustain momentum, with rebounding playing a major factor.
 
Regina won the battle on the glass 53-35, getting to the line at key times late with second and third chance opportunities.
 
Jamie White finished with a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Christian Tabiri had ten rebounds, with both players stepping up with four key boards late.
 
Offensively, Lodi Kenyi led the way with 14 points.
 
"They killed us on the glass," said Kraus.
 
"We forced 11 more turnovers than them [27-16], but they had 18 more rebounds than us. Even though we lost by three, even if we cut [the rebounds] down by ten, we win the game. We just have to clean up the glass. They were physical on the glass, they bullied us tonight, we need to come back tomorrow with better energy."
 
Manitoba's leading scorer Daren Watts was held to six points on 3-for-15 shooting from the field, but he contributed two blocks, three assists and a steal and brought the Bisons back to within three at 60-57 with a poster-esque dunk with a minute to go.
 
True freshman Taven Vigilance also added a career-high eight points in the loss.
 
"We're playing for each other," said Kraus. "We all know if we keep each other accountable and fight for loose balls, we'll be okay."
 
Both teams play again tomorrow at 7 pm.