The U of M Bisons men’s basketball team dominated their weekend series against the Brandon Bobcats at the Healthy Living Centre. On Friday, Jan. 10, the Bisons claimed a hard-fought 81-72 victory in an intense showdown. The team followed it up with a commanding performance on Saturday, Jan. 11, securing a stunning 92-45 win to cap off the series in style.

In game one, the Bisons set the stage rolling through Manyang Tong’s three-point jump shot at the 9:36 mark, assisted by Daren Watts. The Bobcats had a 7-4 lead at 6:02 following a three-point jump shot by Dewayne Thompson. The Bisons were undeterred. Mason Kraus stepped up with a three-point jump shot assisted by Watts to give the Bisons a 12-10 lead at 2:42. Samuel Jensen made a vital effort at 0:24 with a three-point jump shot, through Kraus’s assist, giving the Bisons a narrow edge to end the first quarter at 17-15.

The Bisons remained intact and stayed on course in the second quarter, extending their lead to 23-15 at the 7:56 mark with a precise three-point jump shot from Watts. The team’s sharp execution kept them in control, but the Bobcats were not ready to back down. In a remarkable show of determination, the Bobcats staged a comeback, tying the game at 30-30 through Darko Karac’s free throw at 2:03. The Bisons and the Bobcats intensified their approach to pounce on any chance, but Kraus’s free throws at 0:04 propelled the Bisons to a slim 36-33 lead.

In the third quarter, the Bisons continued to dominate the play, showcasing their power and resilience over the opponent. At the 7:26 mark, Kraus proved his defensive prowess with a timely steal, followed by a swift layup, pushing the score to 43-35 for the Bisons. The Bobcats staged a comeback and leveled the score at 47-47, through Sultan Haider Bhatti’s three-point jump shot at the 1:38 mark. The Bobcats overpowered the Bisons in the closing stage of the quarter to end with a slim 51-49 lead through John Dayo’s free throws at 0:06.

The fourth quarter was an exciting encounter as the two teams went head-to-head in pursuit of control and victory. At 9:27, the Bisons wasted no time leveling the score 51-51 through Kraus’s layup, assisted by Taven Vigilance. Every possession carried weight, with neither team willing to give an inch. The Bisons and the Bobcats kept their composure in an end-to-end play finishing the quarter at 67-67 score.

Overtime brought a dramatic shift in the game’s momentum as the Bisons stepped up their strategy and executed with precision to secure victory. With the score tied at 71-71 at the 2:27 mark, Kraus delivered a pivotal layup, giving the Bisons a 73-71 edge and setting the tone for the final stretch.

The defining moment came at the 0:17 mark, when Kraus made a free throw to seal the game, capping off an impressive 81-72 win.

In game two, the Bisons did not waste time making their mark on the scoreboard, with Watts opening the scoring for the team in the first quarter. However, the Bobcats quickly responded, taking a 3-2 lead at the 9:05 mark. Despite the early setback, the Bisons regrouped and found their rhythm and asserted control over the game. The Bisons built a commanding lead, with Watts capping off an impressive quarter with a powerful dunk, pushing the Bisons to a 22-9 lead at 0:33.

The Bisons were phenomenal in the second quarter, closing the quarter with a 41-20 lead. Andre Gray II came along with a three-point jump shot, with an assist from Kraus at the 0:00 mark.

It was a glittering occasion for the Bisons as they demonstrated superiority to end the third quarter with 64-36 lead. Barac Thon had a layup at the 0:01 mark, which was assisted by Tito Obasoto.

In the fourth quarter, the Bobcats were reduced to chasing shadows as they found it difficult to live up to the blistering form of the Bisons, who remained ruthless to win the game with an overwhelming 92-45 score.

With nine wins and one loss, the Bisons men’s basketball team are first on the Canada West Prairie league standings with a winning percentage of 0.900.

The Bisons men’s basketball will play the Calgary Dinos on Friday, Jan. 17 at 8 p.m. MST and on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 6 p.m. MST.