Mike Still, Bison Sports 

WINNIPEG — A Rashawn Browne three-pointer with just 36 seconds left helped give the Manitoba Bisons get an 81-78 victory on Saturday night over the Winnipeg Wesmen at Investors Group Athletic Centre. 

With the game tied at 77, fifth-year Malik Irwin — playing in his final regular season home game as a Bison — secured a huge rebound. Manitoba would then take a timeout, with Browne cashing from three shortly after. Forward James Wagner also set an excellent screen to set up the shot. 

"It was a little baseline out kind of wrinkle that we put in this week and the guys executed well," Bisons head coach Kirby Schepp said of the clutch shot. "[Kieran] Zziwa put the pass right on the money and Rashawn caught it in rhythm and knocked it down."

Browne led all scorers with 22 points, while Sean Tarver had 21 for the Wesmen. 

The first period was a game of runs, much like the women's game before it. Winnipeg jumped out to a 14-0 lead at the midway point on the strength of four points from guards Narcisse Ambanza and Adam Benrabah. 

But Manitoba battled back on the strength of strong defence and their signature transition game. Guard Keiran Zziwa was the catalyst with four points and a key steal, while forward Andre Arruda was excellent with his on-ball D, as the Bisons entered the second down just 17-14.

Manitoba would take their first lead of the game early in the second after a run that included a big James Wagner slam. But Winnipeg quickly re-took momentum on the strength of their perimeter play. Joseph Medrano and Will Sesay both nailed key three-balls to give the visitors a lead of as much as seven. Senior Sean Tarver also had some good looks down low and capitalized with six points in the period. 

The hosts fought back with some clutch treys of their own late though. Guard Rashawn Browne and forward Malik Irwin both came up clutch from beyond the arc and had 15 combined points as the Bisons entered halftime down just 39-35. 

Both sides were tight on defence to open the third, as there were just six combined points through the first few minutes.

Winnipeg opened the game up midway through, however, taking a 48-47 lead thanks in part to four points in transition from guard Don Dayrit.

But the Bisons responded late, courtesy of the three-ball again. Zziwa had a clutch trey late to cut Winnipeg's lead to six at 56-50 heading to the fourth, while Wagner had a huge block. 

The fourth quarter was yet again the three-point show. The two teams would trade three pointers on numerous occasions, including a three from Dayrit that set up a four-point run, giving Winnipeg a 75-71 lead. But Manitoba fought back. Browne nailed a trey to make it 75-74, then Tarver hit a big two that set up the exciting conclusion. 

Zziwa hit home a three to tie it, then Irwin secured a big board and Browne put the nail in the eventual coffin. The Wesmen had a chance to tie it with four seconds left, however Benrabah couldn't cash on two of three attempts from the free throw line after being fouled.

With the win, Manitoba advanced to 10-10, while Winnipeg fell to 13-7. The two teams will now wait for tonight's results to see who they will face in the playoffs.