Manitoba, Calgary, and Winnipeg all secured victories last night, finishing the regular season with identical 16-4 records. The tie-breaker gives Manitoba the top spot in the Prairie Conference, with Calgary placing second and Winnipeg third.
The Bisons will enter the Canada West playoffs as the No. 2 seed overall, while Victoria claims the top seed with an undefeated 20-0 record in the Pacific Conference.
As a result, Manitoba will host playoff games next weekend. Alberta will face Thompson Rivers on Friday, with the Bisons set to play the winner on Saturday. Exact game times will be announced soon.
For a full breakdown of the playoff picture, check out the "Playoff Picture" section later in this newsletter.
Last Night’s Game:
The Bisons delivered a strong all-around performance against the Cougars last night, excelling on both ends of the court. Defensively, they held the Cougars to just 31% shooting, while all players saw action.
Offensively, eight players contributed to the scoresheet, and the team racked up an impressive 24 assists.
“A much sharper game for our squad tonight. We came out very strong. Defense was engaged, and the ball was moving very well.” – Coach Kirby
Mason Kraus was a force at both ends of the court, finishing with 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Cieran O’Hara (pictured above) delivered a dominant performance, scoring 14 points on an efficient 6-of-7 shooting while tying his career high with 17 rebounds.
Off the bench, Tito Obasoto provided a valuable spark, contributing 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting and showcasing strong defensive play.
It was a well-rounded team effort as the Bisons head into the playoffs!
You can read the full Bisons game story here:
'We've got each other's backs': Collective effort helps Bisons sweep MRU 74-59, secure No. 1 seed in Canada West's Prairie Division - University of Manitoba Athletics
Bisons Top performers:
Mason Kraus:
22 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, 2 steals
Cieran O’Hara:
14 points, 17 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks
Tito Obasato
10 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block,1 steal
Daren Watts:
8 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists
Samuel Jensen
10 points, 1 rebound
Box Score:
Canada West
