The Miners's last hopes disappeared with losses to Bendigo and Knox at the weekend.

Bendigo gave the Wes Davidson Real Estate Miners a basketball lesson to retain The Courier-Bendigo Advertiser Cup 96-70 at the Minerdome on Saturday night.

Ballarat bounced back against Knox on the road yesterday _ almost causing an upset before frustratingly coming up three-points short, 104-101.

The Miners began the weekend with a chance of moving from fifth to fourth by overhauling Knox.

The Raiders dismissed this by defeating Bendigo in overtime on Friday night and then completing the deal against the Miners.

Ballarat will round out its season against Hobart in Hobart on Friday night and North West Tasmania at Ulverstone on Saturday night.

Bendigo put the Miners out of the hunt early to lead by 22 points at half-time.

All it had to do from there was coast.

Chris Hogan had a night out at a venue he almost called home several years ago while a student in Ballarat.

He shot a massive eight three-pointers in 30 points.

The best Ballarat had to offer offensively was Drake Reed and Jared Scoines 17 points apiece.

Consistency has been a problem for the Miners all year and it was a much different outcome at Knox as Tariq Naqqash found his three-point range with five triples in a 27-point bag.

Jamal Brown also bounced back from a quiet night to get 17 points and 14 rebounds.

The Miners closed within one point with 72 seconds remaining, but that was the end of their run.