The Winnipeg Wesmen found their stroke and extended their streak Friday night. 

The Wesmen men's basketball team built up a 23-point second-half lead then fought off a Manitoba run in the fourth quarter to score an 89-80 victory over the Bisons in Canada West conference action at the Investors Group Athletic Centre.

The win was Winnipeg's seventh in a row and 12th of its past 13 games as the Wesmen improved to 14-3 on the season, a game back of first-place Victoria and Manitoba (15-2). 

The Bisons had their eight-game win streak snapped and lost for the first time in conference play since Nov. 26, 2022 in Regina. 

After the game, the men's team were handed the Duckworth Challenge trophy after victory in the annual series was claimed earlier in the night with the women's team's win. It's the fourth time in five years the Wesmen have won the Challenge. 

For the third time in four games, the Wesmen shot better than 40 per cent from three, knocking down 12 of 28 from long range, including 10 of 21 in the first half as they built up a 50-35 edge heading into the break.

After the Bisons trimmed the lead to nine 2:10 into the third quarter, the Wesmen went on a 21-7 run that gave them a 73-50 with just over a minute to go in the quarter. The Bisons then held the Wesmen to just 14 points in the fourth quarter, cutting the lead down to 80-71 with 2:51 to go. 

After Alberto Gordo hit a three to push the lead back up to 12, went on a quick 7-0 run to make it 85-80 with 25 seconds to play. The Wesmen closed it out with free throws. 

Gordo, named the team's Duckworth Challenge MVP, scored 20 points off the bench including a buzzer-beating halfcourt heave to end the half. He added three assists and, for the fifth time this season, had a career-high four steals. 

Mikhail Mikhailov added 20 points of his own and grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds while shooting 9 of 12 from the field. He has shot 50 per cent or better from the field in his last nine conference games and Friday marked the third time in 2023 he's shot 70 per cent or better. 

Shawn Maranan recorded his third double-double in the past four games with 13 points and 10 assists to go along with three steals. It's the fifth time this season he's registered double-digit assists.

Paul Francisco was fantastic off the bench, scoring eight of his 13 points in the second quarter and knocking down 3 of 4 from three. 

Simon Hildebrandt had 20 points and 10 rebounds, along with seven turnovers, to lead the Bisons. Elijah Lostracco scored 19 points, and Mason Kraus had 13 points on 3-for-11 shooting.

The two teams will play the back end of the home-and-home Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Duckworth Centre. Tickets are available online now.