By Danielle Doiron

The University of Manitoba Bisons defeated the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns 81-74 in men's basketball action at Investors Group Athletic Centre on Saturday, Nov. 29.

The win comes after Manitoba defeated Lethbridge 79-72 on Friday night. The Bisons haven't lost a single home game this season and now sit at 8-2 with a 3-game win streak. This was the Pronghorns' third straight loss. They're now even at 5-5.

"This game was way tougher than last night," said Bisons head coach Kirby Schepp. "They came out with better 'D,' more energy, and really competed."

Lethbridge's Jared Baker led the overall scoring with 24 points. Manitoba's Amarjit Basi made 19 points, and Andre Arruda had 18.

The teams were neck-and-neck in the first, until Manitoba broke away with less than two minutes left in the quarter. The Bisons sunk two consecutive 3-point jumpers to take an early four-point lead and close the quarter up 18-14.

The Bisons doubled this lead early on in the second, but the Pronghorns tied it up at 24 with just over 6 minutes left in the half. From there, Lethbridge took control of the game, drawing enough personal fouls and a technical foul from Manitoba coach Kirby Schepp to push the Bisons into bonus. The Pronghorns scored 13 more points to end the half with a 37-31 lead.

Manitoba forward Jonathan Alexander left the court with a lower body injury seconds into the third quarter, but checked back into the game three minutes later.

The Bisons regained the lead after Arruda sunk a 3-pointer following three consecutive Lethbridge fouls with just under six minutes into the third.  The Pronghorns soon tied the game back up at 48 points. Neither team could find the net for the entire last three minutes of the quarter, and the third ended tied 48-48.

The Pronghorns broke the stalemate 34 seconds into the fourth, but the Bisons responded with a 3-pointer to tie the game back up at 51. The teams battled for points, neither one gaining an advantage until halfway through the quarter when Manitoba sunk two and-ones to help gain a 67-59 lead. The Pronghorns cut that advantage down to seven points, but couldn't claim the win. The Bisons took the game with a 81-74 victory.

Schepp said the Bisons fought a hard match and were lucky to get the win.

They have another tough game lined up for after the winter break. The Bisons host the University of Victoria Vikes Investors Group Athletic Centre on Friday, Jan. 9. Lethbridge plays next at home against the UBC Thunderbirds on Friday, Jan. 9 at 8 p.m. MST.