The Manitoba Bisons (4–3) showed grit and resilience on Saturday night, holding off a late charge from the Lethbridge Pronghorns (3–5) to secure a 74–69 victory and earn the weekend split. The Herd were led by an all-around standout performance from Mason Kraus, who delivered 19 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists.
After struggling on Friday - when turnovers and free throws proved costly - the Bisons flipped the script in the rematch. Manitoba came out energized, setting the tone early with a strong defensive presence and improved ball movement. The Herd built a 19–13 lead after the first quarter and extended the margin to 42–29 by halftime.
Lethbridge responded in the third, outscoring the Bisons 22–17 to cut the lead to 59–51 heading into the final frame. The Pronghorns kept pushing, pulling within a single point with four minutes remaining, but Manitoba steadied itself and closed the game with poise.
A major difference from Friday’s loss was the Herd’s care with the basketball. Manitoba committed just 13 turnovers, a significant improvement from the 22 the night before. Defensively, they were far more disruptive, piling up 12 steals compared to Lethbridge’s lone takeaway.
The Bisons’ shooting also rebounded impressively. Manitoba hit 37.5% from the field (24–64) and 30% from beyond the arc (9–30), showing better rhythm and offensive balance. Most importantly, foul shooting - a crucial factor in Friday’s outcome - was a major strength.
The Herd knocked down 81% from the line (17–21), a sharp contrast to their 12–for–24 effort the previous game and ultimately a key reason they sealed the win.
Head Coach Kirby Schepp praised the group’s toughness and adaptability, especially given the circumstances.
“We were without Cieran O’Hara and Manyang Tong due to injuries, so our bench and specifically our front court was very thin. We’re proud of our resilience in this one.”
He also highlighted the improvement in decision-making:
“They played much more patient and with better team play.”
Several individual performances stood out. Daren Watts bounced back from a difficult Friday outing to deliver a composed, impactful game.
Tito Obasoto, inserted into the starting lineup and tasked with a physical matchup against Lethbridge’s young center, rose to the challenge. Obasoto not only battled defensively and pulled down 8 rebounds, but also hit two clutch threes late to help the Bisons secure the victory. He finished 5-for-10 from the field in one of his most complete outings of the season.
With a renewed sense of confidence and a hard-fought victory under their belts, the Herd move forward knowing their resilience - and their free-throw shooting - made all the difference.