Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Although it wasn't a win, the Griffins men's basketball is coming off one of their finest defensive efforts of the season, holding the Alberta Golden Bears to just 71 points – matching a season low for their cross-town rivals – last Saturday.
Without losing the momentum from that, their next challenge is on the other side of the ball as they travel to Winnipeg for a pair of matches against Manitoba on Friday (7 p.m. MT) and Saturday (6 p.m. MT, both Canada West TV).
The Bisons are not only on top of the Canada West standings at 13-1, they're also the stingiest defensive team in the loop, holding opponents to just 72.6 points per game.
"It's a whole new weekend," said Griffins head coach Mike Connolly, whose squad is 0-14. "What happened last weekend's over. You're only as good as your last game.
"We're just getting ready to go play, play hard, compete, take away their three-point shots and pressure the ball to create some turnovers and get out and running. That's basically what we want to continue to do."
Matthew Osunde leads the Griffins in points (12.7 per game), assists (4.0) and rebounds (6.9) and is coming in off a career-high 25-point game against Alberta last Saturday.
On the other side, the Bisons are led by 6-foot-9 power forward Simon Hildebrandt, who is tearing up the conference in his first university season, averaging 17.1 points per game. The Bisons also have two other double digit scorers in Elijah Lostracco (13.9) and Mason Kraus (12.2).
"They shoot the ball well," said Connolly. "I think they play as a team. I think they have the rookie of the year – a 6-9 wing that's pretty good. He's probably the best rookie in Canada if you ask me.
"They shoot the ball; they have a team and they're talented. We have to do everything – play D, rebound, run the floor with them. They're a good team."