BRANDON — The Winnipeg Wesmen had the rebound they needed to secure a much-needed victory Saturday night. 

Five players scored in double figures and Elijah Mensah had a career-high off the bench as the Wesmen men's basketball team snapped a three-game losing streak with an 88-83 win over the Brandon Bobcats in a Canada West conference game at the Healthy Living Centre. 

Mensah scored 17 points in 21 minutes and hit two key free throws after grabbing a huge offensive rebound with less than 30 seconds remaining as the Wesmen improved to 8-4.

With the Wesmen leading 83-81, Mensah secured the rebound off an Alberto Gordo three-point miss and was fouled on the putback. He made both his free throws, which gave the Wesmen enough of a cushion to finish things off.

Donald Stewart led the Wesmen with 19 points and made a critical play in the final seconds as well. After Stewart went 1-for-2 at the line with under 10 seconds ago, he chased down his miss on the second free throw and earned a tie-up and the possession arrow favoured the Wesmen. The Bobcats were forced to foul Shawn Maranan on the next possession and he hit both free throws. 

The Wesmen had another slow start, falling behind by nine in the first quarter before surging ahead in the second to take a 45-43 lead into halftime. 

Malachi Alexander and Mikhail Mikhailov both had 14 points for the Wesmen, who will host Alberta Friday and Saturday. Gordo chipped in with 13 and five steals.

Brandon (8-4) was led by the 18 points of Sulta Haider Bhatti. Elisha Ampofo scored 17, Jack McDonald 14 and Khari Ojeda-Harvey 13.