Box Score Box Score

The University of Regina's men's basketball team recorded a 97-81 victory on Thursday night over Winnipeg in Game 1 of the Great Plains Division semifinal series at the Centre for Kinesiology, Health & Sport.

Winnipeg held its ground against the hometown Cougars for the majority of the first half, but Regina ended the second quarter on an 11-0 run to take a 16-point lead into halftime. The Wesmen weren't able to draw any closer in the second half, as the Cougars enjoyed a double-digit lead for all of the third and fourth quarters.

“I was pleased with our effort once we got through the first quarter,” Cougars head coach James Hillis. “We were outrebounded badly in the first, but our energy was better in the second and third quarters. They're a real athletic team and they attack the rim a lot, but we were able to cover the glass well later in the game.”

Kris Heshka was 11-for-16 from the field and led the Cougars with 27 points, while Jeff Lukomski had 22 points and a career-high eight rebounds. Jamal Williams chipped in with 15 points, with Paul Schubach adding 14 points in just 19 minutes on the floor.

The loss overshadowed a huge performance from Winnipeg third-year guard Peter Lomuro, who was 5-for-8 from behind the three-point line and 10-for-19 from the field. Lomuro ended up leading all players with a career-high 33 points. Nick Lother (12) and Mike James (10) also scored in double digits for the visiting Wesmen.

The Cougars shot 56.3% from the field on Friday, while Winnipeg shot 34.2%.

Playing in their fifth playoff series against each other in the last five years, the two teams will square off in Game 2 of the series on Friday night at 7 p.m. at the CKHS. Should Winnipeg win on Friday, Game 3 is scheduled for Saturday night at 7 p.m. at the CKHS.

NOTES: The Cougars have now won nine consecutive games over the Wesmen in Regina … Lynn Gee registered a career-high 14 minutes on the floor for the Cougars.