Photostory: Simon Says — Isaac Simon’s 50-point weekend leads to Bears split with Bisons
The Golden Bears find their rhythm at home, shaking off an opening-night defeat to split the series against a physical Manitoba squad.
Jonathan BajomoThe opening frame at the Saville Centre January 16 weekend was a physical battle that favoured the Manitoba Bisons. The Bisons exploited a thin Golden Bears frontcourt that was already hampered by injuries. They effectively drew fouls and won the free-throw battle with 14 more attempts than the hosts. Despite Nate Waldron facing foul trouble and the team trailing by 12 in the first half, Alberta clawed back to lose by a narrow six points.
Saturday told a different story. Recognizing the physical deficit, the Bears adjusted by injecting 6’9″, 230-pound forward Caiden Kushnir into the lineup to bolster the interior. This tactical shift, paired with a masterclass from Isaac Simon, flipped the script entirely. Simon followed Friday’s 23-point performance with 27 on Saturday, bringing his weekend total to 50 points and fuelling a massive 22-point turnaround victory.
Now sitting at 10-4 and second in the Prairie Division, the Bears look ahead to a matchup against the 4-10 Regina Cougars. While they enter as favourites, the blueprint for success remains the same. Keeping their big men on the floor and letting Simon lead the charge will be crucial to securing a pair of wins next week.
