The U of M Bisons men’s basketball team wrapped up their weekend series against the Calgary Dinos with a split outcome. The Bisons delivered an impressive 82-75 victory on Friday, Jan. 17. However, the Bisons fell short in Saturday’s game on Jan. 18, where the Dinos bounced back to claim a 102-92 win in a hard-fought contest.
In game one, the Bisons had a challenging beginning in the first quarter as the Calgary Dinos opened the scores at 9:28 through Noah Wharton’s layup. Mason Kraus responded with a free throw for the Bisons at the 9:11 mark. The Dinos dominated the scores until Tito Obasoto delivered a layup at the 4:08 mark, which changed the score to 10-9 for the Bisons. The Bisons held their lead, wrapping up the quarter with an 18-11 advantage following a three-point jump shot by Kraus at 0:02.
The Bisons and the Dinos appeared to have revamped their respective strategy in the early stages of the second quarter. The Bisons progressed steadily and had a deserving 27-18 lead following Daren Watts’s three-point jump shot, assisted by Cieran O’Hara at the 6:39 mark. The Bisons reinforced their performance which resulted in a commanding 41-29 lead at the close of the second quarter, with Watts finishing it off with free throws at 0:03.
At the 9:19 mark of the third quarter, the Dinos looked to be staging a comeback when Daniels Baumanis stepped up with free throws to set the score at 41-31. The Bisons exhibited strength of will as they increased the scores to a 61-44 lead at 1:49 through Kraus’s three-point jump shot, with an assist from Brandt Lenz. The Dinos made efforts to close the gap, but they could not stop the strong performance of the Bisons, who finished the quarter with a 63-51 lead.
The Bisons and the Dinos maintained momentum in the fourth quarter. Nate Petrone made free throws for the Dinos to set the score at 68-61 at the 7:56 mark. As the Bisons failed to capitalize on key opportunities, the Dinos were resilient in their game plan as Petrone’s free throw at the 1:40 mark set the score at 75-74. Lenz salvaged the moment for the Bisons with a three-point jump shot, assisted by Kraus at 0:48. With four seconds to wind up the entire game, Kraus made a remarkable steal and capped it off with a dunk to set the score at 82-74. Petrone made a free throw at 0:00 for the Dinos, but it was not enough to prevent the Bisons from securing a victory with a final score of 82-75.
In game two, the Dinos displayed a determined mentality right from the start, asserting their dominance early with a 28-20 lead at the end of the first quarter. Their strong offensive execution and disciplined defence set the tone for what would be a fiercely contested matchup.
As the second quarter unfolded, the Bisons fought hard to shift the momentum in their favour, making several attempts to take control of the game. However, their efforts fell short as the Dinos held firm, refusing to give up their advantage. With a combination of precise shooting and well-coordinated team play, the Dinos extended their lead to 56-44.
The third quarter brought an intense exchange between the two teams. Despite the Bisons’ push to narrow the score, the Dinos stayed composed and focused, keeping their ambitions alive. Their efforts paid off as they entered the final quarter with a 76-64 lead, putting them in a strong position to secure victory.
The fourth quarter saw moments of open play and opportunities for both teams to shine. The Bisons jostled for a comeback, but the Dinos remained steadfast and emerged victorious, capping off a hard-fought performance with a final score of 102-92.
With ten wins and two losses, the Bisons men’s basketball team are joint leaders with Winnipeg Wesmen on the Canada West Prairie league standings with a winning percentage of 0.833.
The Bisons men’s basketball team will play the Alberta Golden Bears on Friday, Jan. 24 at 8 p.m. CT and on Saturday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. CT at the Investors Group Athletic Centre.
