Box Score Box Score

The University of Regina's men's basketball team clinched a playoff spot on Saturday night after defeating the Winnipeg Wesmen by a 98-79 score at the Centre for Kinesiology, Health & Sport.

The win improves the Cougars' record to 10-8 on the season, meaning that they'll finish ahead of both Alberta (10-10) and Lethbridge (9-10) and in no lower than third place in the Prairie Division standings. Regina will finish in second place in the division and host a first-round playoff series if the Cougars can record a weekend sweep over Saskatchewan (12-6) next weekend.

Two points separated the Cougars and the Wesmen after one quarter on Saturday, but Regina went on an 11-2 run midway through the second to take control of the game. The Cougars took a ten-point lead into halftime and maintained the double-digit advantage through the majority of the third quarter.

A three-pointer by Nick Lother brought Winnipeg to within seven points with six minutes left in the fourth, but the Cougars pulled away from the Wesmen down the stretch to secure the win.

Three Cougars eclipsed the 20-point barrier in the win, led by Jeff Lukomski's 27. Jamal Williams had 23 points and 13 rebounds for a double-double, while Kris Heshka scored 22.

Lother led the Wesmen with 25 points. Peter Lomuro had 11 points, while Eric Zimmerman chipped in with ten.

The loss drops Winnipeg's record to 0-19 on the year. The Wesmen will play their final game of the 2009-10 campaign on Thursday at home against Manitoba.

Regina and Saskatchewan will meet next Friday night at the CKHS and on Saturday night in Saskatoon.

NOTES: Williams and Paul Schubach were both honoured prior to the contest as Regina's graduating fifth-year players … Schubach had 11 points and tied for the game high in assists (5) … Lukomski now has 236 career three-pointers, three short of the Canada West record shared by Casey Archibald and Danny Balderson … if the Cougars finish the season in third place in the Prairie Division, they'll head out to Simon Fraser for a best-of-three Canada West quarterfinal series.