There were playoff implications abounding over the weekend for the U of M Bisons basketball teams.
While the men looked to lock down a bye to the second round, the women had to win to clinch a spot in the dance. After the Bisons took three of four from the Brandon University Bobcats, both were accomplished.here were playoff implications abounding over the weekend for the U of M Bisons basketball teams.
Men’s basketball
When you’re fighting for your playoff life, you’ve got to play desperate.
Such was the case Friday as the Bobcats edged out the Bisons 90-87 to get into playoff position.
The game was all U of M in the first half, as the herd shot above 50 per cent from the field and was lights-out from range. Heading into halftime the Bisons had a commanding 49-36 lead.
After a tight third quarter where the Bobcats kept the U of M at bay, BU started the comeback in the fourth.
With 3:17 to go, down 85-80, Shun Williams went 2-for-2 from the free-throw line kicking off an eight-point run to give Brandon an 88-85 lead.
Cameron O’Hara briefly got the herd within one, but a pair of Dominique Dennis free throws closed out the win for Brandon.
The loss seemed to wake up the herd, as it closed out the regular season with a dominant 78-58 win.
Things got going early for the U of M, as the club outscored the visiting Bobcats 24-14 in the opening quarter.
Joel Adu-Quaye kicked off an 11-point run for the Bisons to start the second quarter, and the herd closed it with a 10-point run to build a 49-20 lead at the half.
The Bisons kept the Bobcats at arm’s length the rest of the way to finish the season with a win.
The U of M finishes the regular season at 16-4 but falls to fourth in the conference based on RPI. With a bye to the second round, the herd will await the winner of the competition between Brandon University and the University of Victoria Vikes.
Women’s basketball
All it needed was a win, and the Bisons women’s basketball team decided to grab two just in case with a season-ending sweep of the Bobcats.
The action got started Friday with a big 84-72 win by the U of M to clinch a playoff spot.
A huge 31-point first quarter set the tone for the herd, but it only held a 43-31 lead heading into the half.
Both sides traded baskets the rest of the way, with identical 15-15 and 26-26 scores to close out the game.
Emma Thompson led the herd with 18 points on the night, while Lauren Bartlett held things down below the basket with a game-high seven rebounds.
With the playoffs locked down, the Bobcats looked to catch the Bisons sleeping Saturday, but despite a lead at the half, the Bisons rallied to an 86-76 win and weekend sweep.
Coming out of halftime, the Bisons faced a 51-44 deficit, but the club was undeterred.
An Addison Martin layup kicked off a 19-point run for the herd, who added seven more points in the quarter, outscoring BU 26-8.
The U of M held on to the lead in the fourth to complete the sweep.
With both wins, the U of M finishes the year at 9-11, good for 10th in the conference. Its playoff journey will begin against the seventh-place University of Victoria Vikes.
