Box Score MANITOBA – The University of Manitoba is hosting the second day of a pre-season men's basketball tournament on October 11 featuring the Manitoba Bisons, University of Winnipeg Wesmen, University of Regina Cougars and the University of Algoma Thunderbirds.  
 
The Bisons men's basketball team played their second game of the pre-season tournament against the Cougars, who are coming off a loss to Winnipeg while Manitoba won their first bout of the tournament against Algoma. Enjoying their home-court advantage at the Investors Group Athletic Centre on Sat, Oct. 11, the Bisons took a decisive lead early on and carried it through to an 88-70 win over the Cougars.
 
When asked about his team's performance, Head Coach Kirby Schepp says, "We're happy with the tempo we're playing."
 
The match started with strong performances by both teams resulting in a 17-14 score after the first quarter. A pull-up three-point jumper by Bison guard Amarjit (AJ) Basi put an end to a constant back-and-forth in the eighth minute to give the Bisons a lead heading into the second. "We need to be better at defensive containment," said Schepp.
 
Performances differed in the second when the Bisons enjoyed a 19-point run that included an impressive one-hand jam by forward Jonathan Alexander. Overall, the Cougars were outscored 25-6 in a quarter that saw Manitoba grow their lead to 22 points before the half.
 
While the third was much closer, the point spread would prove too much for the visiting team to overcome. Regina's offense picked up some steam, outscoring the Bisons by three points, but their defense was unable to halt the home team's momentum.
 
The final quarter produced another strong showing from both offenses. The Bisons' second-quarter run proved to be insurmountable, as they ended up with an 18-point win over the Cougars. The head coach looks forward to seeing the U of M fans at their season opener on Oct. 31 saying, "we promise to entertain."
 
Bison forward Andre Arruda led the match in scoring with 25 points, including 2-4 at the three-point line. Bison guard AJ Basi also had a strong showing with 18 points, while the leading scorers on Regina, Will Tallman and Jonathan Tull, tied for 13 points each. Bison point guard Stephan Walton had the most assists of the game with six.
 
Manitoba's next action is still pre-season at McMaster (Oct. 17) and Wilfrid Laurier (Oct. 19). Regina will next travel to the United States in exhibition action verus Dickinson State (Oct. 17), Mayville State (Oct. 18) and Jamestown College (Oct. 19).