WINNIPEG – Twelve different Bisons got on the score sheet in an 87-65 win over Brandon on Saturday night at IGAC to close out the regular season.
 
Manitoba finished 13-7 in the regular season with the win, and will face the 8-12 Bobcats for the fourth time next week. Both teams will travel to BC for the Canada West play-in game, with the winner facing the loser of tonight's UBC and Victoria game on the quarterfinals.
 
The Herd recognized seniors Mason Kraus, Daren Watts, Cieran O'Hara, Tito Obasoto, Samuel Jensen and Manyang Tong prior to the game, as they suited up for the Bisons at home for the last time. The first five made history this year, breaking the school record for career regular season wins as a collection of teammates, with 67.
 
All six Bisons recorded at least a bucket in the victory, led by Watt's 16 points. Brandon was missing their two leading scorers in Sultan Haider Bhatti and Munroop Gill. Darko Karac and Youri Cange stepped up in their absence with 15 points each.  
 
Manitoba went into the second with a 29-16 lead thanks to multiple defensive stops that led to points, including a variety of looks inside the paint for easy points. Taven Vigilance had a big quarter with a monstrous block that led to a layup and a big one hand slam to keep the momentum going for the Herd.
 
Brandon got two deep threes back-to-back from big man Max Winters which got the game back down to a three-point lead early, but Manitoba answered on both end. Watts put on a defensive clinic with a block and a steal at the end of the quarter that led to an and one, and the Herd had six steals overall.
 
It was the same trend in quarter two. Manitoba kept the pressure on Brandon with some big time defensive stops that led to points in transition to give the Bisons a 50-27 lead going into the half.
 
The hustle on defence from the Bisons didn't go unnoticed as Brandon shot just 15 percent from the field with only three makes, while Manitoba shot 50 percent. Six different players recorded at least six points for the hosts. Manyang Tong drained two triples entering the break, as did Mason Kraus, and Manitoba shot 43.8 percent from distance overall.
 
The second half featured highlight-reel dunks from both sides. Karac found DeMarco Duncan for two empathic finishes, including a one-hand slam, while Jonam Kazadi showcased incredible hustle on the other end, stealing a Bobcats pass and taking it all the way downtown for the dunk.
 
A comfortable Bisons lead remained in the second half however, and they cruised to the 87-65 victory.