Over in Abbotsford, B.C., the Bison men’s and women’s basketball teams were wrapping up their regular season with a series against the University of the Fraser Valley Cascades.
The Bison women clinched the playoffs for the first time since 2009 with a 79-74 win in overtime on Friday. The women fell on Saturday night 80-56 to conclude their regular season.
Claire Harvey entered the top 15 in Canada West record books for best block average in a single season, averaging 1.95 a game. Taylor Randall finished the year averaging 16.8 points per game, 12th best in the Canada West. The Bison women will play a play-in game against the University of Alberta Pandas in Edmonton on Feb. 10.
On the men’s side, the Bisons clinched a home playoff game with their wins over the Cascades, 67-46 on Friday and 82-66 on Saturday.
Bison fifth-year guard Justus Alleyn captured the Canada West scoring title, averaging 24.1 points per game. Alleyn is the first Bison to claim the award since Manitoba joined the Canada West in 2000-01. Alleyn is also just the 26th player in Canada West history to hit 1,500 career points.
Rashawn Browne also made some history this year in his first season in brown and gold, making the top 15 in Canada West for best assist average in a single season with 6.83. He is also fifth in for the best assist to turnover ratio in a single season, with 3.08.
The Bisons finished the year with a 12-8 record, and will host a play-in game against provincial rivals the University of Brandon Bobcats on Feb. 9 at the Investors Group Athletic Centre.
