Box Score Charles Barton had 20 points as the UNBC Timberwolves spoiled the Manitoba Bisons home opener with a 77-71 victory in Canada West men's basketball play at the Investors Group Athletic Centre (U of M campus) on Friday, Nov. 1.

The Timberwolves (1-0) also got 15 points from Franck Olivier Kouagnia. Yigit Ozsaynier led the Bisons (0-1) with 19 points and chipped in with seven rebounds.

"I thought we had some chances to win it," said Bisons head coach Kirby Schepp. "We couldn't get a break and they made some big plays and crawled back in it. It went back and forth and we fouled them virtually every time down, that's what cost us."

Manitoba's offence struggled early on and UNBC led by six after the first quarter thanks to a strong 10-for-15 (66.7%) shooting performance from the field. The Bisons struggles continued in the second quarter. A high pressure defence from UNBC created Bison turnovers and the Timberwolves would convert, going up by double digits at 26-16, leading to a timeout from the home team.

The Bisons were able to battle their way back into the game before halftime thanks to the efforts of a couple of first year players. Andre Arruda hit back-to-back jumpers to cut the lead down to five. Then, trailing only by one, a jumper from Justus Alleyn gave Manitoba their first lead of the game at 30-29.

UNBC would however grab the lead back and head into half with a 37-32 lead. Dan Barton had a halftime-high of 10 points for the Timberwolves on a perfect 5-for-5 start from the floor.

Manitoba would come out of halftime playing on a new gear. They opened the third quarter on a 13-2 run, capped off by a basket-and-one from Arruda. The two sides exchanges baskets the rest of the frame and the Bisons led 51-49, setting up the final quarter.

The game remained tight throughout the fourth but UNBC would pull away in the final five minutes, starting when Barton made a tough bank shot with the shot clock expiring to give UNBC a 62-60 lead. With 2:10 remaining, the Timberwolves expanded that lead to seven when Jeff Chu collected the hoop and harm on a tough layup.

Amir Ali made a pair of foul shots for the Bisons to cut the deficit to six with 43 seconds left. After Kouagnia missed free throws on the other end, Mike Holloway went coast-to-coast for the layup to make it 70-66. Now a five point lead, Holloway tried to drive once again, this time turning the ball over. Chu hit the ensuing free throws and it was a seven point Timberwolves lead. They would ice the game at the foul line and walk away with the win.

The Bisons will conclude opening weekend tomorrow night at the Investors Group Athletic Centre (U of M campus) when they host another Pacific Division opponent, the Mount Royal Cougars at 8 p.m. CT. The Timberwolves will go crosstown and take on the University of Winnipeg Wesmen at the Duckworth Centre tomorrow night.