Box Score Box Score

The University of Regina's men's basketball team improved to 9-8 on the season after defeating the Winnipeg Wesmen by a score of 94-86 on Friday night at the Centre for Kinesiology, Health & Sport.

The Cougars looked like they would romp to an easy win after opening up a 20-point lead by halftime, but the Wesmen had other ideas.

Winnipeg ended the third quarter on a 10-3 run, then continued to chip away at the lead in the fourth quarter. Back-to-back three-pointers by Eric Zimmerman and Nick Lother cut the lead to just seven points with 1:44 left in the fourth quarter, but the Cougars were able to keep the Wesmen at bay down the stretch.

Jimmy Scroggins provided his usual spark off the bench for the Cougars, going 8-for-13 from the field and piling up 23 points in 27 minutes played. Kris Heshka scored 20 and added 14 rebounds for the double-double, while Jeff Lukomski (16) and Paul Schubach (13) also got into double figures in points for Regina.

Regina's win comes despite career highs from both Peter Lomuro and Zimmerman. Lomuro was 11-for-21 from the field and poured in a game-high 29 points, while Zimmerman exploded for 26 points. Nick Lother had 14 points for the Wesmen before fouling out in the fourth quarter. Winnipeg had just one point – a free throw from Pawel Gacon – from its non-starters.

The Cougars are now just one win – or one Alberta loss – from clinching a spot in the Canada West postseason.

The Wesmen, who are trying to avoid the first winless season in Canada West since the 1979-80 Saskatchewan Huskies, fall to 0-18.

The two teams will tip off again on Saturday night at 7 p.m.

NOTES: Lukomski hit three treys for the Cougars tonight and is now seven short of setting a new Canada West record for most three-pointers in a career.