WINNIPEG – While the Manitoba Bisons made an exhilarating run in the third quarter, the Winnipeg Wesmen shut the door on Thursday night at the Duckworth Centre, winning 97-75.

The win improves Winnipeg to 13-6 on the season, while the Bisons see a six-game win streak snapped and fall to 9-10. Both teams have locked in playoff spots and, based on RPI seeding, are playing for home court advantage in a play-in game next weekend.

The Wesmen were led by guard Sean Tarver, who was celebrated before the game in his final regular season home game. Tarver poured in a game-high 30 points on 11-for-20 shooting, including 6-for-12 from three. He also had ten rebounds for a double-double.

Winnipeg shot 52.6% in an excellent first quarter, opening on a 7-2 run as Tarver made his first three baskets.

"I thought there were key moments where we weren't disciplined and they got what they wanted, got a lot of open looks," said Bisons head coach Kirby Schepp.

"We allowed them to play in the flow and we didn't affect change; we didn't take them out of their rhythm."

In the second, the Wesmen opened on a tear, as a run was capped by a Bisons turnover that turned into a transition bucket — making it 35-19. Manitoba came out of the timeout and battled back, as a Zziwa three was followed by a jumper from Rashawn Browne and the Bisons got the game back into single-digits. Browne would finish with 17 points and four assists.

After the Wesmen went into the break up 48-37, the Bisons made their best push in the third quarter. Zziwa's fourth three of the game cut the lead to six, then a tenacious run from Manitoba's big men — James Wagner with a layup, Joel Adu-Quaye with another — made it a three-point game with 3:20 to go in the quarter.

The Wesmen rallied quickly, though, responding with a 7-0 run to head into the fourth quarter up ten.

Winnipeg went on to dominate the final frame, outscoring Manitoba 30-18. Both Tarver and Narcisse Ambanza made critical shots, turning a close game into a rout with the final score.

The Wesmen win also counts toward the 28^th annual Duckworth Challenge, as they take a 2-1 lead in the series that includes women's soccer, basketball, and volleyball. The challenge concludes with volleyball at Investors Group Athletic Centre tomorrow, February 1, with the men at 6 p.m. and the women at 7:45 p.m.

The Bisons and Wesmen will complete their home-and-home series on Saturday, February 2 — also at IGAC — with a tip at 3 p.m.