Fans were treated to a vintage cross-town showdown on Friday night at IGAC, as the Bisons and Wesmen delivered another memorable chapter in their long-standing rivalry.
Manitoba came out strong, leading 17–13 after the first quarter. Winnipeg responded with a surge before halftime, taking a 35–30 advantage into the break. The Wesmen continued to build momentum in the third, extending their lead to 54–44.
But the Bisons refused to fold.
Down 10 heading into the fourth, Manitoba put together what was arguably their best quarter of the season, outscoring the Wesmen 23–13 with relentless defensive pressure and timely scoring. Their late-game surge forced a 67–67 tie and sent the crowd into a frenzy as the game headed to overtime.
In the extra frame, however, Winnipeg regained control, outscoring the Bisons 9–4 to secure a 76–71 victory.
Winnipeg shot 38.8% from the field, 36% from three, and an impressive 88.2% from the free-throw line. Manitoba finished at 38.9% from the field, 25% from beyond the arc, but struggled at the line, converting just 56.3%.
The Bisons’ defense was a highlight all night, forcing 27 Wesmen turnovers and picking up 16 steals. Ultimately, though, three costly turnovers in overtime and missed opportunities at the free-throw line proved to be the difference.
Top scorer for the Wesmen was Kato Jaro who had a career-high 23 points.
Winnipeg improves to 7-3, good enough for second in Canada West’s Prairie Division, while Manitoba fell to 5-5, tied with Calgary for fifth.
Manyang Tong provided a valuable spark off the bench, contributing eight points on an efficient 4-for-5 shooting performance.
⭐ Bisons Top Performers
Daren Watts
20 pts • 3 rebs • 2 blks
Brandt Lenz
18 pts • 2 asts • 4 rebs
Ramogi Nyagudi
10 pts • 5 rebs • 4 stls
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Box Score