BRANDON – The Brandon Bobcats dropped a heartbreaking 87-81 decision against the Winnipeg Wesmen in Canada West men's basketball action at the Healthy Living Centre on Friday night.
 
The Wesmen used a 19-4 run to close out the contest and complete the home-and-home series sweep over the Bobcats.
 
Denzel Lynch-Blair led all scorers with 29 points as the Wesmen upped their conference record to 6-and-2.
 
John Paul posted a double-double for the Bobcats with 20 points and 13 rebounds as BU slipped to 2-and-6.
 
The two sides battled back and forth in the first quarter with the BU men's team holding a slight 24-19 edge.
 
In the second quarter with time winding down, the Bobcats scored six straight points to go into the halftime break up half a dozen.
 
Brandon was able to build on their lead in the third quarter with Josh Bell hitting a contested last-second layup to give BU a 10-point advantage going into the fourth quarter.
 
The Wesmen showed composure down the stretch and tied the game 77-77 following a William Sesay three-pointer.
 
Brandon regained the lead at 81-79 with 2:53 to go, but the Wesmen willed their way into the win column after that.
 
Winnipeg finished the contest with an 8-0 run, which included Lynch-Blair's go-ahead layup with 1:23 left to play.
 
Up next for the Wesmen is another home-and-home series against cross-city rival the Manitoba Bisons, which begins Thursday at the U-of-M.
 
The Bobcats are welcoming the Fraser Valley Cascades to the HLC this coming weekend for their final games before the Christmas break.