After a very competitive 2012-13 Canada West conference regular season, the Manitoba Bisons men’s basketball team finished in third spot in the ultra-competitive Prairie Division with a 14-8 record and the program has made it back to the post-season for the third time in 12 seasons (2012-13, 2010-11, 2003-04). The Bisons now will play the second place team in the Pacific Division, the Victoria Vikes (16-6). The two teams compete in the 2013 Canada West Quarter Final best-of-three series at Victoria. Game one will be on Friday, February 22 at 9 p.m. CT with game two on Saturday, February 23 at 9 p.m. and game three, if necessary, will be played on Sunday, February 24 at 5 p.m. CT.The two teams battled earlier this season when Manitoba defeated Victoria at home by an 82-79 score on January 12. Victoria holds a sparkling 10-1 home conference record this season while Manitoba had a 7-4 away record in 2012-13.
In this conference season, the Bisons were fourth in scoring offence at 83.0 points per game and 11th in scoring defence at 79.9 points per game. In Canada West free throw percentage, Manitoba was fifth at 70.4%, ninth in field goal percentage at 42.2% second in rebounding offence at 42.5 per game, sixth in rebounding margin at +2.0, second in steals at 10.5, first in turnover margin at +3.64 and first in offensive rebounds at 14.5 per game.
Individually in Canada West, co-captain Stephan Walton finished ninth in Canada West scoring at 17.3 points per game and Jonar Huertas was tied 12th at 16.6. Walton is third in assists at 5.0 per game, second in conference free throw with 86.5% and tied for second in steals at 2.7 per game. Huertas was tied for sixth in Canada West steals at 2.0 per game, 12th in conference 3-point percentage at 39.8% and tied for second in 3-point made at 2.9 per game. Walton was tied for second in conference minutes at 34.7.
Bison men’s basketball - 2013 Canada West Quarter Final series away schedule
- Friday, February 22 Game 1: Bisons at Victoria Starts at 9 p.m. CT
- Saturday, February 23 Game 2: Bisons at Victoria Starts at 9 p.m. CT
- *Sunday, February 24 Game 3: Bisons at Victoria Starts at 5 p.m. CT
* if necessary
Bison Notes: In his fourth season as Bison men’s basketball head coach, Kirby Schepp led the team to a six win improvement from last year and second playoff appearance.
Source: http://gobisons.ca/index.php?page=news&id=2791