Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics

WINNIPEG – Two small lapses were all it took for the Griffins to find themselves in a 30-point hole against the conference-leading Manitoba Bisons on Saturday.

It added up to an 88-57 loss in Canada West men's basketball action.

"We gave up two big runs that we couldn't recover from," said Griffins head coach Mike Connolly. "We were down eight in the second quarter. We committed seven turnovers in a row, and it was a 20-point lead. 

"Then, to start the fourth, they hit three threes to go up 30 and it's over."

With the result, the Bisons improve to 15-1, while the Griffins fall to 0-16.

Matthew Osunde led the Griffins with 16 points, seven assists and five rebounds in another amazing 40-minute performance on the court, while Milan Jaksic chipped in 11 and Scottie Austin had 10.

"Matty played 80 minutes this weekend," marvelled Connolly. "His endurance and toughness are some of the best I've seen – all the while producing and running the point, playing the hardest position on the court."

Manitoba was led by Daren Watts, who had 17 points and seven rebounds, while Mason Kraus and Elijah Lostracco each had 11 points.

"It was an overall better effort," said Connolly, compared to Friday's 91-58 loss. "However, we need to play flawless against these good teams. We only had two three-minute lapses and it still blows up."

Next up for the Griffins is a road trip to Lethbridge on Feb. 3-4.