The fourth-placed Miners swept past the Bandits 114-93 to keep their nose in front of Bendigo, which also had a win over Southern Districts as the battle for play-off positions in the east conference

intensifies further.

Albury-Wodonga is having a tough season with just one win and its cause was not helped when it lined up without number one player Andrew Rice.

The Bandits battled bravely in the first half to stay in touch.

The RetireInvest Ballarat Miners continually threatened to break away, but were unable to shut the door on the visitors.

That changed in the third quarter as Ballarat finally stamped its authority on the game.

A 17-4 run for the Miners opened up a 21-point lead and the contest was as good as over.

Ballarat put in one of its more even performances of the season, with five players shooting in double figures.

Jamal Brown scored the bulk of his 28 points early and from there it was shared around with Marcus Toney-El getting 19 and Adam McSwain showing some good signs with 13.

Youngster Aaron Bartram also made his debut as he stepped off the bench in the last two minutes and received one of the biggest receptions of the night from an enthusiastic crowd.

The Miners do not play again this weekend and now prepare to meet Hobart and North West Tasmania in Tasmania in the penultimate weekend of the home and away season.