The University of Regina Cougars defeated the University of the Fraser Valley Cascades, 87-83, in a nail bitter at the Envision Athletic Centre. For a second straight night the fans were treated to a great Canada West men’s basketball game with outcome not known until the final whistle. The loss drops the Cascades regular season record to 6-12 and leaves them tied with the University of Calgary Dinos for the 8th and final playoff berth.
The Cascades started well on Saturday continuing their right working and gritty play matching Regina basket for basket as they led by one point after the first quarter. The lead changed hands several times in the second quarter as Regina outscored UFV by three points to take a 45-43 lead into the intermission. Sam Freeman, Coquitlam, BC led the Cascades with 12 points and Zeon Gray, Los Angeles, CA added 11 points in the first half.
The second half was again more hard fought up and down the court basketball by both teams as the Cougars were able to maintain their slim lead and go into final quarter up by five points. The Cascades never quit as they put the pressure on the Cougars defense but in the end Regina held onto their slim lead and won their 12th league game of the season.
Gray and Freeman each scored 18 points to lead UFV. Joel Friesen, Abbotsford, BC added 16 points and Josh Kufske, Abbotsford, BC chipped in with 13 points. Friesen pulled down 9 total rebounds as UFV recorded 34 boards for the game.
In the thick of the playoff race, UFV will now travel to Winnipeg and Lethbridge over the next two weekends before closing out the 2010-11 Canada West regular season, at home, against Brandon University, the weekend of February 18 and 19.
Regina 20 25 21 21 = 87 (12-6)
UFV 21 22 18 22 = 83 (6-12)
Top Scorers:
Regina: Paul Gareau, Regina, SK 21 points/ UFV: Freeman & Gray 18 points each.
Regina: Paul Gareau, Regina, SK 21 points/ UFV: Freeman & Gray 18 points each.
Team Rebounds:
Regina: 4+30=34/ UFV: 13+21=34
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