The University of Regina's men's basketball team couldn't overcome a slow start and had to settle for a weekend split against UBC Okanagan after losing 79-70 to the Heat on Saturday night in Kelowna, B.C.

The Cougars never really recovered from an early 12-0 run by UBC Okanagan which put the home side up 15-3. Another 16-4 run by the Heat gave them their largest lead of the game at 33-12 midway through the second and though the Cougars mounted a comeback that brought them to within four points of UBC Okanagan with four minutes to go, the Heat quickly restored the double-digit lead to secure the win.

UBC Okanagan (2-10) was led by the one-two scoring punch of Aldrich Berrios and Mitch Goodwin, who scored 21 points and 18 points, respectively. Berrios was 4-for-6 from three-point range, while Goodwin added five rebounds and tied for the game high with three steals. Matt Lafontaine, Triston Matthews, and Austin Penrose each chipped in with nine points for UBC Okanagan, which shot 49% from the field overall and 50% from three-point land as a team.

The Cougars had to overcome the loss of fifth-year point guard Aaron McGowan, who got the start but was injured just seconds into the ball game after colliding with UBC Okanagan forward Noma Obaseki. Samuel Hillis and Johneil Johnson both had season highs in minutes played, with Johnson scoring a career-high and team-leading 23 points in the loss.

Brian Ofori and Brandon Tull both scored 14 points for the Cougars, who fall to 6-4 with the loss and drop into a tie for sixth place in the tightly packed Canada West standings.

Regina is back at home next weekend with games against Manitoba (4-6) on Friday and Saturday at the Centre for Kinesiology, Health & Sport.