DAVID LARKINS, Wesmen Athletics

The Winnipeg Wesmen found a way to close a game against the Manitoba Bisons and got a much-needed win because of it.

Shawn Maranan had a career-high 20 points and the Wesmen men's basketball team dominated the fourth quarter en route to a 78-61 win over the Bisons in a Canada West conference game Saturday night at the Investors Group Athletic Centre. 

The win moved the Wesmen record to 5-5, a game back of second-place Manitoba (6-4) and two back of East Division-leading Regina. 

Maranan added seven rebounds, three assists and three steals while hitting four of six three-pointers. The Wesmen shot a season-high 41.4 per cent from three. 

Don Dayrit added 14 points, Spas Nikolov 11 and seven rebounds, and Malachi Alexander added 11 and seven off the bench. 

The Bisons led by as many as six in the first half and held a 40-35 advantage at the half. But the Wesmen opened the half on a 9-0 run and, despite the Bisons pulling to within a point on a few occasions, never trailed again.

The finishing run encompassed most of the fourth quarter as the Wesmen held the Bisons to one field goal — a Mason Kraus three with 2:17 to go — over the final eight minutes. In that stretch, the Wesmen outscored Manitoba 19-3.

The Wesmen outscored the Bisons 43-21 in the half and 22-7 in the fourth quarter alone. 

James Wagner had 18 points to lead Manitoba, which got 12 from Kraus, 11 on 4-for-14 shooting from Keiran Zziwa and 10 off the bench from Elijah Lostracco. 

—#REPTHEW—