Box Score Box Score

Kyle Vince's jumper from the right baseline with no time remaining on the clock rimmed out, giving the Regina Cougars a 76-75 win over the Brandon Bobcats on Saturday night in a Canada West game at the Centre for Kinesiology, Health & Sport.

The Cougars had opened up an eight-point lead with two minutes left in the fourth quarter, but Brandon scored nine consecutive points – including seven by fourth-year guard O'Brian Wallace – to take a one-point lead with 34 seconds left.

Jeff Lukomski was fouled by Wallace on the ensuing possession and the fifth-year Cougar hit both free throws to put the home side back up by one with 22 seconds remaining on the clock. Brandon chose to hold for the last shot, leading to Vince's missed jumper.

“I said to the guys after the game that it's probably fitting we won that game on a defensive possession because our defence was significantly better tonight, and would have been even better without all the turnovers,” said Cougars head coach James Hillis, whose team turned the ball over 25 times and 17 times in the first half alone. “We got the stops when we needed it, and that gave us the win tonight.”

Wallace, a fourth-year guard from Toronto in his first year with Brandon after transferring from Algoma University College, piled up 36 points in a losing effort. Wallace was 12-for-20 from the field, including 4-for-9 from beyond the arc, and hit eight of his nine free throws. Isaiah James scored 12 points and pulled down 13 rebounds to register a double-double for Brandon (2-2).

Paul Gareau scored a team-high 15 points for the Cougars and pulled down 10 rebounds for a double-double. Matt Campbell had 11 points and eight rebounds for Regina, while Kris Heshka had 10 points before fouling out late in the contest.

Wallace, Jordan Reaves, and Donovan Gayle all fouled out for the Bobcats, who host the University of Alberta (2-0) next weekend in Brandon.

The win improves Regina's record to 2-0 on the season. The Cougars return to action next weekend at home against the Lethbridge Pronghorns (1-3).

NOTES: Wallace's 36 points is the most scored by a player in a Canada West game this season.