Bisons' National Hopes Fade as Vikes Pull Away Late in 97-85 Defeat
The Herd knew it was going to be a challenge. The Vikes were coming off a tough loss to Calgary in the Canada West semifinal, held the No. 1 national ranking all season, and had the advantage of playing at home. But despite the odds, our Bisons battled relentlessly, closing the gap to just one point with a little over three minutes remaining.
“I am very proud of the way our guys competed tonight. They left it all on the floor. We led for much of the game in a back and forth contest.” - Coach Schepp
Bisons came out strong, jumping to a 24-15 lead behind Krause’s red-hot shooting. He exploded for 18 points in the opening quarter, going 4-for-5 from beyond the arc and converting two three-point plays. By the end of the first, the Bisons held a 30-25 advantage.
The Vikes responded in the second quarter, catching fire from three-point range and taking their first lead of the game, 41-40, with 5:50 remaining in the half. The game remained tight, with multiple lead changes. Daren Watts provided a spark for the Bisons, scoring 12 of his 14 points in the second quarter. At halftime, the Bisons clung to a narrow 56-54 lead.
The third quarter proved costly for the Bisons, as cold shooting, turnovers, and untimely fouls led to a rough stretch. Mason Krause, who had been dominant early, was shut down after the midway point of the second quarter. Meanwhile, Ronaldo Robinson took control for the Vikes, helping them outscore the Bisons 23-12 and build a 77-68 lead heading into the fourth.
Determined to fight back, the Bisons delivered a lockdown defensive effort to start the final frame, holding the Vikes scoreless for the first six minutes and cutting the deficit to just one (80-79) with 3:20 remaining. But when it mattered most, the Vikes took over, closing the game on a 17-6 run to secure a 97-85 victory.
Victoria shot an impressive 50.7% from the floor and 41.9% from beyond the arc. The physical game saw the Bisons convert 20 of 30 free throws, while UVic matched the percentage, hitting 16 of 24. Manitoba edged out Victoria on the boards, 41-35, but committed 15 turnovers, compared to 10 by Victoria.
The Bisons now have one last shot at nationals through a wildcard selection, which will be announced Sunday morning.
