Watts eclipses 1,000 career points, Bisons hand MRU first loss at home, 86-77

CALGARY -- Leading scorer Daren Watts eclipsed 1,000 career points on his first bucket of the game, and finished with a team-high 20 points, as the Manitoba Bisons opened the second half of their season with an 86-77 win over the Mount Royal Cougars. The loss was MRU's first at home. They fell to 8-5 on the campaign, while Manitoba improved to 6-5, just two wins shy of the Cougars for third in Canada West's extremely competitive Prairie Division. 

The top five teams in the conference all have at least six wins on the season, paced by 8-2 Alberta and 7-3 Winnipeg, both nationally ranked. The Cougars are just behind, followed by Manitoba and 6-6 Brandon. The Herd play MRU again tomorrow, along with Alberta next weekend. They also have two games left with the Wesmen, and twowith Brandon, as the top five spots are still completely up for grabs. The top two teams in the division will host playoffs, beginning on February 13. 

Watts -- tied for third in Canada West with 18.4 points per game -- surpassed 1K on a layup just under three minutes into the opening frame, cutting into an early 5-0 Cougars lead. From there, the two sides traded momentum in a gritty, defensive affair. The Cougars' largest lead was eight, at 12-4 in the opening frame, but the Bisons responded, out-scoring MRU 15-9 in the second to take a 37-36 lead into the break. 

The close contest was broken wide open late in the fourth. Manitoba went on a 13-2 run over a four-minute span to secure victory. 

Trailing 67-66 with six minutes to play, Manyang Tong went on a mini 5-0 run, draining a transition layup, followed by a three to help the Herd take the lead for good. The triple was one of three during Manitoba's 13-point surge, with Brandt Lenz and Watts also hitting from distance. Overall, the Bisons nailed 11 threes in the game, compared to just six for the hosts. Manitoba also had their best showing from the free throw line this year, going 17-for-21, including a perfect 11-for-11 between Tong and Watts. 

Tong -- who was raised in Calgary and had many friends in attendance -- finished the game with a season-best 19 points, which also tied for his career high as a Bison. Meanwhile, Lenz scored all eight of his points late in the fourth to help his side emerge victorious. Bisons point guard Mason Kraus also returned to the lineup after being sidelined for a significant portion of the first half with an injury, finishing with five points, six assists, six rebounds and a steal.