QUICKLY
The University of Regina's men's basketball team came out hot and held off Trinity Western for a season-opening 87-74 road win on Friday night in Langley, B.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Trinity Western led by four just before the midway mark of the first quarter, but the Cougars caught fire from three-point range and closed the opening period on a 25-8 run. Nick Barnard hit three triples during that run, newcomer Drew Ackerman connected for two, and Jalen Edwards and Lodie Kenyi both hit one three.
• Regina went into halftime with a 49-37 advantage, but a 21-7 run by Trinity Western in the third quarter helped turned what had been a 17-point Cougar lead into a one-possession game late in the period.
• The Cougars were able to come up with a quick response to close out the third, getting triples by Luke Harold and Ackerman on consecutive possessions and then getting a bucket by Barnard at the buzzer to get the lead back up to 76-66.
• Regina clamped down defensively in the final quarter, conceding just one TWU field goal in the opening eight and a half minutes while the lead ballooned to 18.

NOTES

• Barnard led all players with a career-high 24 points while also collecting 6 rebounds and 5 assists.
• Edwards also had a career high in points, finishing with 22 while also grabbing 8 rebounds.
• Kenyi finished with 11 points and joined Edwards with 8 rebounds.
• Playing in his first regular season game since the 2019-20 campaign with Dr. Martin LeBoldus High School, Cade Mather played 18 minutes and finished with 9 points and 6 rebounds.
• Mather, Kenyi, Ackerman, and Harold all played their first Canada West games with the Cougars.

NEXT UP
Regina and Trinity Western will meet again on Saturday night in Langley. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 PM (PST).

 

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