WINNIPEG - The University of Winnipeg men's basketball team received a total team effort in an 85-67 victory over the University of Manitoba Bisons in the final game of the 24th Annual Duckworth Challenge on Friday, January 30 night.

Winnipeg extends their winning streak to three and improves to 9-6 on the 2014-15 Canada West season. Manitoba sees their record fall to 9-8.

Four Wesmen players figured in double digits with Jelane Pryce leading the way with a game high 18 points. Fifth year players Mark McNee and Travis Krahn each scored 15 while Denzel Lynch-Blair came off the bench to score 12 and grab a team high nine rebounds. 

Amarjit Basi led Manitoba with 14 points. Stephan Walton and Jonathan Alexander had 12. Andre Arruda followed with 11. Justus Alleyn led the Bisons with 10 rebounds.

Jelane Pryce (Winnipeg) and Stephan Walton (Manitoba) were named the Duckworth Challenge Players of the Game.

The Wesmen were on fire from the opening tip-off , jumping out to a quick 13-2 lead three minutes into the contest. A pair of Arruda free throws soon after cut the Wesmen lead to 16-10 but a pair of Travis Krahn three-pointers sparked a 10-5 run to give Winnipeg a 26-15 lead after the opening quarter.

Winnipeg maintained their double digit lead for the majority of the second quarter, extending their lead to 37-23 . Manitoba got back into the contest in a hurry scoring nine unanswered points to cut the Wesmen lead to 37-32. Winnipeg held off the charge and went into the halftime break leading 42-35. 

In the third quarter Manitoba continued to put pressure on the Wesmen. The Bisons outscored the Wesmen 13-7 early on to cut the Wesmen lead to 49-48. After the Bisons closed to within one at 51-50 Winnipeg outscored the visitors 12-3 in the final four minutes to go into the final quarter with a 63-54 lead.

Winnipeg put the game away in the fourth quarter outscoring the Bisons 22-13 to make the final score 85-67.

The two teams will meet Saturday night at the University of Manitoba held at the Investors Group Athletic Centre. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT.

Note: The 24th Annual Duckworth Challenge title went to the Manitoba Bisons by a 3-2 margin. Manitoba won the  women's soccer and both volleyball matches. Winnipeg was victorious in both basketball games.