Box Score Box Score

The Regina Cougars withstood a late charge from the Lethbridge Pronghorns to record an 81-77 victory on Friday night in a Canada West men's basketball game in Lethbridge.

The Cougars led 76-65 with two and a half minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, but the Pronghorns reeled off ten straight points to cut Regina's lead to one with 49 seconds left. The Cougars were able hold Lethbridge to two points the rest of the way, and hit five of six free throws in the waning moments of the contest to seal the win.

Sterling Nostedt led the Cougars with a career-high 16 points, while Jamal Williams and Paul Schubach both scored 14. Schubach and Jordan McFarlen both fouled out of the game, paving the way for first-year guard Darius Mole to step up with 11 points in 26 minutes on the floor. Marek Downarowicz led the Cougars with 11 rebounds and fell just one point short of a double-double, while Kris Heshka pulled down ten boards.

Danhue Lawrence and Rob Cooper both had 18 points to lead the Pronghorns, who fall to 0-3 with the loss. Cooper added 11 rebounds for the double-double.

The win gives the Cougars a 1-0 record in the new eight-team Prairie Divison. The teams will meet again on Saturday night in Lethbridge.