EDMONTON - Tito Obasoto scored 10 points in the final frame, including two huge threes, to lead the Manitoba Bisons past the Alberta Golden Bears 85-79 in a phenomenal Friday night contest at the Saville Centre.

Obasoto, team leader in points with 22, was far from the only Bison to impress, as Mason Kraus finished with 20 and Daren Watts potted 16. It was an impressive offensive performance for the visitors, who shot 47% from the field and made 11 threes. Their defence also impressed, especially at the start of the game where they limited the Bears to 33 first half points. With the victory, they move to 8-5 on the year and bump up to third place in the Prairie Division, one spot behind the Bears.

The hosts had a phenomenal second half, outscoring the Bisons 46-40 and battling back to take the lead at points in a game they were down by as much as 14 points. Isaac Simon was the catalyst in his return to the lineup, scoring a game-high 23 points to go with seven rebounds and six assists. While the comeback effort was impressive, they were ultimately unable to overcome a large early deficit, and slide to 9-4 to sit in second in the division.

The first quarter started off with an Isaac Simon-vs.-Manitoba battle, as the fourth-year Alberta standout had nine points in the opening five minutes, but the Bison were strong, taking a 15-11  lead early. From there however, the Manitoba offence would truly fire up, shooting 58% from the floor and boasting six players who scored in the frame. They led the Bears 27-19 headed into the second.

The second tightened up, both in margin and in defensive effort as the teams both shot an even 40% from the field. Manitoba went on a 10-0 run in the middle of the quarter to open a 14-point lead, but the Bears were able to settle down and head into the break down 45-33. Mason Kraus led the Bisons and the game in scoring at the break with 12 points, while Simon led the Bears with 11.

The Bears were on the Bisons from the hop to start the third, going on a 16-3 run to take a one point lead midway through the frame. Simon had 10 points alone in the quarter, while the Bears depth was able to chip in around the perimeter. The Bisons would hit a buzzer three to take a 61-56 lead into the final frame, but the momentum had been shifted to slightly favour the home side.

The teams were in lockstep for most of the quarter, one side losing the lead only to gain it back minutes later, but a real breakthrough came with four minutes left, when Tito Obasoto hit two huge threes to give the Bisons a six-point lead. Fahad Yusuf and Kyle Varner hit some big threes down the stretch, but Manitoba would not let the lead escape them as they took a tight one 85-79.

The teams return to do battle tomorrow night at the Saville Centre for their last regular season matchup.