The Big Three Deliver: Kraus, Watts, and O’Hara Lead Bisons to Victory
The Herd came up big on the road, earning their first sweep of the season with a complete and disciplined team performance.
Leading the charge were Mason Kraus, Daren Watts, and Cieran O’Hara (pictured above), who set the tone at both ends of the floor.
Kraus, returning to form after a lengthy layoff before the Christmas break while recovering from a potentially season-ending wrist injury to his shooting hand, looked every bit like his old self. He led all scorers with 29 points, including 15 by halftime.
Watts added a strong 22-point performance, while O’Hara made his presence felt on the glass, pulling down eight defensive and three offensive rebounds.
Mount Royal struck first, holding a slim 21–19 edge after the opening quarter. Manitoba responded with poise in the second, edging ahead to take a 42–41 halftime lead.
The turning point came in the third quarter, where the Bisons asserted control on both ends, outscoring the Cougars 25–13 to build a 67–54 advantage heading into the final frame.
From there, the Herd stayed composed, winning the fourth quarter 21–18 to close out an 88–72 victory.
The numbers reflected a disciplined and efficient effort. Manitoba shot 49.2% (32–65) from the field, 37.5% (10–28) from three-point range, and 73.7% (14–19) from the free-throw line.
Mount Royal finished at 42.2% (27–64) overall, 27.8% (5–18) from beyond the arc, and 81.3% (13–16) at the stripe.
The Bisons also controlled the glass, outrebounding the Cougars 34–27, and recorded 14 assists compared to Mount Royal’s five.
After the game, Coach Schepp praised the group’s collective effort:
“One of our best complete games of the year for our guys. Really happy with the way the guys rebounded the ball again tonight, and for the most part we showed more discipline on offence in our shot selection. Our three leaders did their thing tonight. Mason appears to have shaken off the rust from his time off - he was back to his old self making a big impact at both ends. In a stretch in the third quarter we went to Daren Watts six possessions in a row and they had no answer for him.”
As for the postgame reward, the tradition remains intact:
“The Steak Dinner Sweep has been a tradition since I’ve been here. Win two on the road and we go for an extra meal at a nicer place.”
With the win, Manitoba improves to 7–5, climbing into third place in the Prairie Conference, while Mount Royal falls to 8–6, dropping to fourth place.
Another solid win. Another strong team effort. Another step forward for the Herd.
Go Bisons. 🦬
Watts delivered a strong performance, especially down the stretch, where the Cougars had no answer for him. He finished the night with 22 points, providing timely scoring when the Bisons needed it most to seal the win.
⭐ Bisons Top Performers
Mason Kraus
29 pts • 6 rebs • 5 asts • 3 stls
Daren Watts
22 pts • 5 rebs • 2 asts • 1 blk
Ramoji Nyagudi
12 pts • 3 rebs• 2 stls
Cieran O’Hara
4 pts • 11 rebs • 2 asts • 1 stl
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Box Score
Congratulations to Mason Kraus who was named Player of the Game!
Delivering a complete, all-around performance, Kraus led all scorers with 29 points, setting the tone offensively and making a strong impact at both ends of the floor in his return to form.