The Winnipeg Wesmen owned the fourth, and now nearly have a lock on first. 

The Wesmen men's basketball team held the Manitoba Bisons to 14 points in the fourth quarter and earned a split of their Duckworth Challenge home-and-home with a 91-79 Canada West conference win Saturday afternoon at the Duckworth Centre. 

In the process, the Wesmen (14-4) stayed two games ahead of Alberta and Mount Royal for first place in the Prairie Division with two games to play. A win at Saskatchewan next weekend will clinch first and home-court advantage throughout the post-season. The No. 1 seed in the Prairie Division is declared the conference's No. 1 overall. 

After dropping Thursday's Duckworth Challenge opener in which they blew a 10-point fourth-quarter lead, the Wesmen made sure there would be no reruns on their home court. Winnipeg held the Bisons to 0-for-8 from three and 7-for-20 from the field in the final quarter.

After the Bisons pulled to within three with 8:11 to play, the Wesmen tore off a quick 7-0 run over the next 70 seconds sparked by Malachi Alexander. The fifth-year guard, who was honoured as part of Senior Day in a pregame ceremony, scored five of his season-high 26 points in the quick spurt and Manitoba would not get closer than six the rest of the way. 

Alexander — who was named the Wesmen Duckworth Challenge MVP — added five assists, three rebounds and two steals while making four of eight from three in his final conference game at home.

But there may just be more home games in the future for him and fellow fifth-year Donald Stewart, who finished with seven points, four assists and three rebounds while battling foul trouble over 26 minutes. 

Alberto Gordo scored 20 points in the half on his way to 22 for the night and added eight assists, and Kato Jaro finished with 11. 

The Bisons (13-5) got 19 points, nine assists and seven rebounds from their Duckworth MVP, Mason Kraus. Ramogi Nyagudi scored 14, Daren Watts had 12 and Cieran O'Hara 11 with 10 rebounds.